2019 Vauxhall Adam — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 21,799 MOT tests, the 2019 Vauxhall Adam recorded an 88.6% pass rate. Against city cars of a similar age (8.7% fail rate), the 2019 Adam comes out 2.7pp worse. Failures cluster in visibility, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: visibility, recorded in 7.5% of tests against 4.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, shock absorbers and washers — wipers alone was recorded 1,334 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.8% once past 90-120k — 2.7× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 7.5% | 1,627 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 972 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.8% | 828 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.6% | 568 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.5% | 543 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 87 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,334 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 574 |
| 3 | Washers | 567 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 425 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 318 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 301 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 17.6% | 3,838 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.8% | 2,346 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.2% | 2,218 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.6% | 1,004 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 611 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 215 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 15,160 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 6,124 | 17.0% |
| 60-90k | 466 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 42 | 23.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 229 | 4.4% |
| 2022 | 5,280 | 7.9% |
| 2023 | 5,406 | 11.2% |
| 2024 | 5,310 | 12.2% |
| 2025 | 5,574 | 14.6% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Adam
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 7.5% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (7.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (4.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2019 Vauxhall Adams pass their MOT?
88.6% of the 21,799 2019 Vauxhall Adam MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Vauxhall Adam?
Visibility, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.5%).
Does the 2019 Adam get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 23.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,799 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.