2007 Vauxhall Astra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 306,408 MOT tests, the 2007 Vauxhall Astra recorded a 70.7% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (26.9% fail rate), the 2007 Astra comes out 2.5pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.3%) and lighting & signalling (15.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, pins and bushes and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 27,348 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.6% versus 15.8%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 29.1% of the time against 30.1% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 39.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.3% | 49,858 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 47,017 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.3% | 34,494 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 21,660 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.6% | 20,066 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.0% | 18,416 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 27,348 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 16,094 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 16,024 |
| 4 | Washers | 13,771 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 12,528 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 12,043 |
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 | 39.6% | 121,268 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.8% | 103,412 |
| 3 | Tyres | 31.2% | 95,540 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 23.5% | 71,898 |
| 5 | Other defects | 19.3% | 59,105 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 44,463 |
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 | 2,013 | 15.8% |
| 30-60k | 21,591 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 72,518 | 26.6% |
| 90-120k | 104,635 | 30.2% |
| 120-150k | 67,660 | 32.0% |
| 150k+ | 37,741 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 236,862 | 29.1% |
| Diesel | 69,532 | 30.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86,832 | 29.7% |
| 2022 | 72,740 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 60,641 | 29.4% |
| 2024 | 48,437 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 37,758 | 29.2% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Astra
On a 2007 Astra, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (16.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.3% 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 2007 Vauxhall Astras pass their MOT?
70.7% of the 306,408 2007 Vauxhall Astra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Vauxhall Astra?
Suspension, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.3%).
Does the 2007 Astra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.8% in the 0-30k band to 32.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 306,408 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.