2010 Vauxhall Agila — MOT failures & pass rate
25,892 MOT tests on the 2010 Vauxhall Agila are in this dataset, and 74.1% of them passed. Against city cars of a similar age (24.2% fail rate), the 2010 Agila comes out 1.7pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 16.2% of tests against 11.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, service brake performance and ball joint — coil spring alone was recorded 1,756 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.1% in the 0-30k band and 33.5% in the 150k+ band, a 15.4-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 37.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 24.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.2% | 4,206 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.7% | 3,028 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 1,809 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.2% | 1,344 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.3% | 1,126 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 481 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,756 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 1,648 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 1,499 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,272 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,245 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 726 |
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 | 37.5% | 9,714 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.2% | 7,296 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.1% | 7,014 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.6% | 2,239 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 1,724 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 1,379 |
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 | 3,397 | 18.1% |
| 30-60k | 10,306 | 24.0% |
| 60-90k | 8,235 | 28.4% |
| 90-120k | 3,018 | 32.0% |
| 120-150k | 737 | 33.1% |
| 150k+ | 194 | 33.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 25,424 | 25.9% |
| Diesel | 468 | 28.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,445 | 24.9% |
| 2022 | 5,367 | 25.2% |
| 2023 | 5,280 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 5,001 | 26.1% |
| 2025 | 4,799 | 26.8% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Agila
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.2% 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.
- Brakes (11.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2010 Vauxhall Agilas pass their MOT?
74.1% of the 25,892 2010 Vauxhall Agila MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Vauxhall Agila?
Suspension, recorded in 16.2% of tests, followed by brakes (11.7%).
Does the 2010 Agila get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.1% in the 0-30k band to 33.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,892 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.