2011 Vauxhall Astra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 303,477 MOT tests, the 2011 Vauxhall Astra recorded a 76.8% pass rate. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (22.7% 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 (10.8%) and suspension (10.4%) 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 20,666 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.9% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 23.0% of the time against 23.3% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 32,729 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.4% | 31,650 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.9% | 20,777 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.3% | 18,970 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 13,265 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 12,217 |
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 | 20,666 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 13,090 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 11,101 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 11,070 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 10,461 |
| 6 | Washers | 7,314 |
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 | 30.8% | 93,549 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.6% | 71,783 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.3% | 55,517 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.3% | 55,383 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.8% | 35,797 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 27,755 |
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 | 4,000 | 16.2% |
| 30-60k | 36,895 | 18.2% |
| 60-90k | 97,786 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 95,922 | 24.6% |
| 120-150k | 46,412 | 25.4% |
| 150k+ | 21,937 | 25.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 166,159 | 23.0% |
| Diesel | 137,318 | 23.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 68,274 | 22.1% |
| 2022 | 66,042 | 22.7% |
| 2023 | 62,649 | 23.6% |
| 2024 | 56,686 | 23.7% |
| 2025 | 49,826 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Astra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.4% 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 (6.9% 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 2011 Vauxhall Astras pass their MOT?
76.8% of the 303,477 2011 Vauxhall Astra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Vauxhall Astra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.8% of tests, followed by suspension (10.4%).
Does the 2011 Astra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.2% in the 0-30k band to 25.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 303,477 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.