1997 Vauxhall Astra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,330 MOT tests, the 1997 Vauxhall Astra recorded a 73.7% pass rate. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (26.5% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.2%) and suspension (12.1%) 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 389 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.6% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 530 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.1% | 524 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.3% | 402 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 325 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 324 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.1% | 264 |
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 | 389 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 266 |
| 3 | Service brake imbalance | 216 |
| 4 | Wipers | 190 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 187 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 165 |
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 | 33.7% | 1,460 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.4% | 1,359 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.1% | 1,085 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.6% | 894 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.4% | 668 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.0% | 650 |
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 | 95 | 21.1% |
| 30-60k | 974 | 21.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,424 | 26.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,034 | 27.0% |
| 120-150k | 520 | 32.1% |
| 150k+ | 278 | 31.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,050 | 26.1% |
| Diesel | 280 | 29.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,350 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 989 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 781 | 23.8% |
| 2024 | 661 | 27.1% |
| 2025 | 549 | 28.1% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Astra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.1% 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 (9.3% 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 1997 Vauxhall Astras pass their MOT?
73.7% of the 4,330 1997 Vauxhall Astra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Vauxhall Astra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by suspension (12.1%).
Does the 1997 Astra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.1% in the 0-30k band to 31.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,330 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.