2011 Vauxhall Agila — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 28,290 MOT tests, the 2011 Vauxhall Agila recorded a 75.6% pass rate. Against city cars of a similar age (22.6% fail rate), the 2011 Agila comes out 1.7pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 15.8% of all tests — 6.2 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, ball joint and rigid brake pipes — coil spring alone was recorded 2,171 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 34.2% versus 15.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.8% | 4,478 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.7% | 2,731 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 2,119 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.8% | 1,635 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.9% | 1,099 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 336 |
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 | 2,171 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 1,732 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,338 |
| 4 | Wipers | 1,273 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 1,068 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 772 |
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 | 35.6% | 10,059 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.4% | 7,746 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.6% | 7,250 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.1% | 2,298 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 1,990 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 1,266 |
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 | 3,871 | 15.1% |
| 30-60k | 11,427 | 22.1% |
| 60-90k | 8,698 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 3,246 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 820 | 32.3% |
| 150k+ | 222 | 34.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 28,241 | 24.4% |
| Diesel | 49 | 22.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,728 | 22.4% |
| 2022 | 5,733 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 5,747 | 24.8% |
| 2024 | 5,643 | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 5,439 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Agila
On a 2011 Agila, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.8% 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.
- Brakes (9.7% 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 (7.5% 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 2011 Vauxhall Agilas pass their MOT?
75.6% of the 28,290 2011 Vauxhall Agila MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Vauxhall Agila?
Suspension, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by brakes (9.7%).
Does the 2011 Agila get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.1% in the 0-30k band to 34.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,290 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.