2014 Vauxhall Antara — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 17,315 MOT tests, the 2014 Vauxhall Antara recorded a 75.7% pass rate. That is 6.4 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 17.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.1% of all tests — 9.8 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 1,442 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.0% versus 16.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.1% | 3,308 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.3% | 1,603 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.7% | 1,162 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.5% | 1,123 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 725 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 634 |
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 | 1,442 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 1,355 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 889 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 839 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 703 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 614 |
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 | 28.1% | 4,861 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.4% | 4,573 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.3% | 4,385 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.3% | 2,819 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 1,885 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.6% | 1,840 |
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 | 456 | 16.0% |
| 30-60k | 5,209 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 7,480 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 3,188 | 28.4% |
| 120-150k | 787 | 29.7% |
| 150k+ | 193 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 17,091 | 24.3% |
| Petrol | 224 | 23.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,537 | 21.1% |
| 2022 | 3,536 | 22.4% |
| 2023 | 3,558 | 24.8% |
| 2024 | 3,389 | 25.2% |
| 2025 | 3,295 | 28.1% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Antara
On a 2014 Antara, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.3% 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 (6.7% 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.
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 2014 Vauxhall Antaras pass their MOT?
75.7% of the 17,315 2014 Vauxhall Antara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Vauxhall Antara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.1% of tests, followed by suspension (9.3%).
Does the 2014 Antara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.0% in the 0-30k band to 30.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,315 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.