2002 Vauxhall Agila — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,643 MOT tests, the 2002 Vauxhall Agila recorded a 74.3% pass rate. That is 3.4 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 29.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.9% of all tests — 4.9 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, position lamp and registration plate lamp(s) — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 388 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.2% in the 0-30k band and 29.2% in the 150k+ band, a 13.0-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 41.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 841 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.0% | 565 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.8% | 550 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.9% | 390 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.2% | 348 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 291 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 388 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 303 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 294 |
| 4 | Wipers | 258 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 222 |
| 6 | Joints | 209 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 41.6% | 2,346 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.4% | 1,769 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.4% | 1,718 |
| 4 | Other defects | 20.5% | 1,155 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.6% | 1,049 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 666 |
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 | 173 | 16.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,383 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 2,173 | 26.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,337 | 28.8% |
| 120-150k | 437 | 31.4% |
| 150k+ | 120 | 29.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,604 | 25.6% |
| 2022 | 1,301 | 25.9% |
| 2023 | 1,110 | 25.3% |
| 2024 | 917 | 27.2% |
| 2025 | 711 | 24.3% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Agila
On a 2002 Agila, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (9.8% 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 2002 Vauxhall Agilas pass their MOT?
74.3% of the 5,643 2002 Vauxhall Agila MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Vauxhall Agila?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.9% of tests, followed by brakes (10.0%).
Does the 2002 Agila get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.2% in the 0-30k band to 29.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,643 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.