2007 Vauxhall Antara — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Vauxhall Antara passed 69.5% of its 3,018 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), the 2007 Antara comes out 3.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.7%) and brakes (14.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and joints — position lamp alone was recorded 193 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 27.3% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 33.5% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 40.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 29.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 505 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 425 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.9% | 418 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 278 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.7% | 201 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.1% | 183 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 193 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 190 |
| 3 | Joints | 148 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 147 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 146 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 137 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 40.0% | 1,208 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.8% | 1,081 |
| 3 | Tyres | 31.6% | 953 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.6% | 771 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 23.4% | 706 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 511 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 110 | 27.3% |
| 60-90k | 709 | 29.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,318 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 682 | 32.0% |
| 150k+ | 176 | 33.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,959 | 30.5% |
| Petrol | 59 | 32.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 925 | 29.7% |
| 2022 | 772 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 614 | 32.7% |
| 2024 | 430 | 30.2% |
| 2025 | 277 | 32.5% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Antara
On a 2007 Antara, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.1% 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 (13.9% 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 Antaras pass their MOT?
69.5% of the 3,018 2007 Vauxhall Antara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Vauxhall Antara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests, followed by brakes (14.1%).
Does the 2007 Antara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.3% in the 30-60k band to 33.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,018 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.