2012 Vauxhall Ampera — MOT failures & pass rate
2,423 MOT tests on the 2012 Vauxhall Ampera are in this dataset, and 78.9% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (21.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.1%) and tyres (5.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, malfunction indicator lamp and side repeaters — joints alone was recorded 145 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.6% in the 0-30k band and 24.8% in the 150k+ band, a 4.2-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 20.9% of the time against 21.2% for electric.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 197 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.8% | 140 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 135 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 134 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.8% | 116 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.5% | 108 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 145 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 135 |
| 3 | Side repeaters | 77 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 70 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 64 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 60 |
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 | 27.8% | 674 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.8% | 626 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.3% | 273 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 260 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.9% | 239 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 143 |
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 | 34 | 20.6% |
| 30-60k | 272 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 719 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 754 | 22.6% |
| 120-150k | 438 | 22.8% |
| 150k+ | 206 | 24.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | 1,265 | 21.2% |
| Hybrid | 978 | 20.9% |
| Petrol | 104 | 21.1% |
| Other | 76 | 22.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 484 | 17.4% |
| 2022 | 480 | 18.5% |
| 2023 | 498 | 22.3% |
| 2024 | 491 | 23.8% |
| 2025 | 470 | 23.4% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Ampera
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Emissions & environmental (5.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2012 Vauxhall Amperas pass their MOT?
78.9% of the 2,423 2012 Vauxhall Ampera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Vauxhall Ampera?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.1% of tests, followed by tyres (5.8%).
Does the 2012 Ampera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.6% in the 0-30k band to 24.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,423 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.