1995 Vauxhall Astra — MOT failures & pass rate
2,646 MOT tests on the 1995 Vauxhall Astra are in this dataset, and 73.8% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (24.6% fail rate), the 1995 Astra comes out 1.6pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.5%) and suspension (10.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake imbalance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 223 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1995 Astra fails 23.6% of the time in the 30-60k band and 26.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.4 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.4% in 2021 to 24.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 303 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.3% | 273 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.8% | 258 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 232 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 180 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.0% | 158 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 223 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 211 |
| 3 | Service brake imbalance | 119 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 101 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 101 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 101 |
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 | 34.1% | 902 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.7% | 865 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.1% | 664 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 25.1% | 663 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.4% | 435 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.8% | 339 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 560 | 23.6% |
| 60-90k | 794 | 25.6% |
| 90-120k | 676 | 28.8% |
| 120-150k | 361 | 27.7% |
| 150k+ | 219 | 26.9% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,423 | 26.1% |
| Diesel | 223 | 27.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 743 | 26.4% |
| 2022 | 642 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 508 | 25.6% |
| 2024 | 417 | 24.5% |
| 2025 | 336 | 24.7% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Astra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.3% 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 (9.8% 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.
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 1995 Vauxhall Astras pass their MOT?
73.8% of the 2,646 1995 Vauxhall Astra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Vauxhall Astra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests, followed by suspension (10.3%).
Does the 1995 Astra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.6% in the 30-60k band to 26.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,646 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.