2021 Vauxhall Astra Business T — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 411 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Vauxhall Astra Business T, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and emissions & environmental. Its pass rate of 92.5% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 11.1% in the 60-90k group versus 5.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 17 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.4% | 14 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 12 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.9% | 8 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.5% | 6 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.5% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 11 |
| 3 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 6 |
| 4 | Washers | 6 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 5 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 5 |
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 | 13.4% | 55 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.2% | 50 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.6% | 23 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 7 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.0% | 4 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 2 |
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 | 201 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 163 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 45 | 11.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 199 | 8.5% |
| 2025 | 193 | 6.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Astra Business T
Before buying a 2021 Vauxhall Astra Business T, 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.
- 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Ts pass their MOT?
92.5% of the 411 2021 Vauxhall Astra Business T MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Vauxhall Astra Business T?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.1% of tests, followed by tyres (3.4%).
Does the 2021 Astra Business T get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 11.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 411 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.