2010 Vauxhall Astra — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Vauxhall Astra passed 74.9% of its 356,248 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 24.1%, so the 2010 Astra sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.5%) and lighting & signalling (10.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 24,654 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.8% versus 15.9%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 24.8% of the time against 25.9% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 30.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.5% | 44,492 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 39,010 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 30,463 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.0% | 21,553 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 17,682 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 16,941 |
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 | 24,654 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 14,121 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 13,079 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 10,759 |
| 5 | Washers | 10,645 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 10,320 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 30.6% | 109,134 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.3% | 97,172 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.9% | 95,841 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.2% | 79,214 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.5% | 44,467 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 37,660 |
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 | 4,613 | 15.9% |
| 30-60k | 40,191 | 19.3% |
| 60-90k | 118,094 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 117,873 | 26.5% |
| 120-150k | 52,595 | 27.9% |
| 150k+ | 22,511 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 279,366 | 24.8% |
| Diesel | 76,874 | 25.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 84,938 | 24.4% |
| 2022 | 79,827 | 24.7% |
| 2023 | 73,229 | 25.2% |
| 2024 | 64,202 | 25.5% |
| 2025 | 54,052 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Astra
On a 2010 Astra, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (12.5% 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 (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.6% 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 2010 Vauxhall Astras pass their MOT?
74.9% of the 356,248 2010 Vauxhall Astra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Vauxhall Astra?
Suspension, recorded in 12.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.9%).
Does the 2010 Astra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.9% in the 0-30k band to 28.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 356,248 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.