2007 Vauxhall Agila — MOT failures & pass rate
7,173 MOT tests on the 2007 Vauxhall Agila are in this dataset, and 77.5% of them passed. Against city cars of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), the 2007 Agila comes out 5.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.7% of tests against 7.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, registration plate lamp(s) and wipers — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 533 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 39.1% once past 150k — 3.5× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 41.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 909 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.5% | 539 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.7% | 481 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.7% | 478 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.4% | 462 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 277 |
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 | 533 |
| 2 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 412 |
| 3 | Wipers | 334 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 302 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 265 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 203 |
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 | 41.0% | 2,941 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.9% | 2,215 |
| 3 | Other defects | 27.6% | 1,977 |
| 4 | Suspension | 24.9% | 1,786 |
| 5 | Steering | 8.4% | 604 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.7% | 552 |
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 | 452 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 2,363 | 18.1% |
| 60-90k | 2,784 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,187 | 29.0% |
| 120-150k | 295 | 29.5% |
| 150k+ | 87 | 39.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,689 | 20.3% |
| 2022 | 1,604 | 23.1% |
| 2023 | 1,458 | 22.6% |
| 2024 | 1,296 | 24.1% |
| 2025 | 1,126 | 22.8% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Agila
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.5% 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 (6.7% 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 2007 Vauxhall Agilas pass their MOT?
77.5% of the 7,173 2007 Vauxhall Agila MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Vauxhall Agila?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.7% of tests, followed by brakes (7.5%).
Does the 2007 Agila get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 39.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,173 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.