1989 Vauxhall Astra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 563 MOT tests, the 1989 Vauxhall Astra recorded an 83.3% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 19.2% of the time, so this is 2.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.5% of all tests — 3.7 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and joints — headlamp aim alone was recorded 28 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1989 Astra fails 9.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.4 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 19.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.1% in 2021 to 14.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 59 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.8% | 38 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 37 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.3% | 24 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.1% | 23 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 21 |
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 | 28 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 27 |
| 3 | Joints | 18 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 16 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 15 |
| 6 | Wipers | 15 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 19.2% | 108 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.1% | 85 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.0% | 79 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.7% | 60 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.0% | 28 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.4% | 25 |
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 | 55 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 108 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 177 | 20.3% |
| 90-120k | 136 | 17.6% |
| 120-150k | 39 | 12.8% |
| 150k+ | 42 | 9.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 114 | 21.1% |
| 2022 | 121 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 108 | 13.0% |
| 2024 | 113 | 14.2% |
| 2025 | 107 | 14.9% |
What to check before buying a 1989 Astra
On a 1989 Astra, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.8% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1989 Vauxhall Astras pass their MOT?
83.3% of the 563 1989 Vauxhall Astra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1989 Vauxhall Astra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.5% of tests, followed by brakes (6.8%).
Does the 1989 Astra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.1% in the 0-30k band to 9.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 563 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.