2012 Vauxhall Antara — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Vauxhall Antara passed 73.3% of its 40,355 recorded MOT tests. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 22.1% of the time, so this is 4.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.0% of all tests — 9.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and pins and bushes — position lamp alone was recorded 3,746 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.0% in the 0-30k band and 30.1% in the 150k+ band, a 17.2-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 26.2% of the time against 26.8% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 31.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.0% | 8,084 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.4% | 4,198 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.2% | 3,712 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 2,399 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.7% | 2,316 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 1,878 |
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 | 3,746 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 2,656 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 2,617 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,687 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,606 |
| 6 | Reversing lamps | 1,586 |
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 | 31.7% | 12,797 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.8% | 12,026 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.4% | 11,467 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.3% | 8,990 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 4,994 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.3% | 4,168 |
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 | 332 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 6,636 | 21.8% |
| 60-90k | 18,407 | 26.3% |
| 90-120k | 11,656 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,779 | 30.2% |
| 150k+ | 538 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 39,410 | 26.8% |
| Petrol | 945 | 26.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,809 | 23.9% |
| 2022 | 8,684 | 25.9% |
| 2023 | 8,318 | 27.1% |
| 2024 | 7,747 | 28.6% |
| 2025 | 6,797 | 29.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Antara
On a 2012 Antara, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.4% 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 (9.2% 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 2012 Vauxhall Antaras pass their MOT?
73.3% of the 40,355 2012 Vauxhall Antara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Vauxhall Antara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.0% of tests, followed by suspension (10.4%).
Does the 2012 Antara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 30.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 40,355 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.