2021 Vauxhall Astra Business T D — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,252 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Vauxhall Astra Business T D, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres. Its pass rate of 90.6% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 16.7% in the 90-120k group versus 6.2% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 51 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.1% | 51 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.4% | 43 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 35 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 25 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 46 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
| 3 | Washers | 25 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 24 |
| 5 | Wipers | 19 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 17 |
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 | 19.9% | 249 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.6% | 208 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.9% | 74 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 40 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 16 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 10 |
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 | 321 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 608 | 9.5% |
| 60-90k | 244 | 11.1% |
| 90-120k | 66 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 30 | 10.0% |
| 2024 | 642 | 10.1% |
| 2025 | 578 | 8.6% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Astra Business T D
Before buying a 2021 Vauxhall Astra Business T D, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 4.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (4.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.1% 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.
- Tyres (3.4% 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.
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 2021 Vauxhall Astra Business T Ds pass their MOT?
90.6% of the 1,252 2021 Vauxhall Astra Business T D MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Vauxhall Astra Business T D?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.1% of tests, followed by brakes (4.1%).
Does the 2021 Astra Business T D get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,252 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.