2011 Vauxhall Antara — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,141 MOT tests, the 2011 Vauxhall Antara recorded a 71.0% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 23.7% of the time, so this is 5.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests against 13.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, pins and bushes and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 517 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.8% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.7% | 1,212 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.5% | 827 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.2% | 625 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.1% | 372 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 328 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 327 |
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 | 517 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 436 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 392 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 338 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 296 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 291 |
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 | 36.5% | 2,240 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.1% | 1,970 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.5% | 1,753 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 24.1% | 1,480 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 791 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.1% | 680 |
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 | 51 | 11.8% |
| 30-60k | 536 | 23.1% |
| 60-90k | 2,416 | 28.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,273 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 729 | 32.6% |
| 150k+ | 132 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,732 | 29.0% |
| Petrol | 409 | 29.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,408 | 27.2% |
| 2022 | 1,365 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 1,298 | 29.3% |
| 2024 | 1,131 | 29.8% |
| 2025 | 939 | 29.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Antara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.5% 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 (10.2% 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.
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 Antaras pass their MOT?
71.0% of the 6,141 2011 Vauxhall Antara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Vauxhall Antara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests, followed by suspension (13.5%).
Does the 2011 Antara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.8% in the 0-30k band to 28.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,141 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.