1993 Vauxhall Astra — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1993 Vauxhall Astra passed 77.8% of its 1,249 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (22.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (10.2%) and lighting & signalling (9.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and prescribed areas — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 103 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.7% versus 5.8%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 28.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.2% in 2021 to 21.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.2% | 127 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 122 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 101 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 83 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.6% | 82 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 51 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 103 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 83 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 43 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 39 |
| 5 | Wipers | 38 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 37 |
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 | 28.4% | 355 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.3% | 341 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 22.3% | 279 |
| 4 | Tyres | 19.9% | 249 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.9% | 186 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.6% | 107 |
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 | 52 | 5.8% |
| 30-60k | 224 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 346 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 293 | 21.2% |
| 120-150k | 201 | 26.9% |
| 150k+ | 131 | 26.7% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,187 | 22.2% |
| Diesel | 62 | 21.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 351 | 24.2% |
| 2022 | 289 | 22.8% |
| 2023 | 232 | 18.1% |
| 2024 | 208 | 22.6% |
| 2025 | 169 | 21.9% |
What to check before buying a 1993 Astra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 10.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (10.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.1% 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 1993 Vauxhall Astras pass their MOT?
77.8% of the 1,249 1993 Vauxhall Astra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Vauxhall Astra?
Suspension, recorded in 10.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.8%).
Does the 1993 Astra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.8% in the 0-30k band to 26.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,249 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.