2014 Vauxhall Astra — MOT failures & pass rate
330,669 MOT tests on the 2014 Vauxhall Astra are in this dataset, and 79.4% of them passed. That is 3.2 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 17.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.3%) and lighting & signalling (7.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 29,249 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.6% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 20.1% of the time against 21.3% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.3% | 30,813 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 25,875 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.2% | 20,451 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.2% | 17,249 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 13,349 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 8,509 |
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 | 29,249 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 11,095 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 10,865 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 10,747 |
| 5 | Washers | 9,440 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 7,337 |
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 | 28.9% | 95,684 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.3% | 70,291 |
| 3 | Other defects | 10.1% | 33,483 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.7% | 32,124 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 24,044 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 20,342 |
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 | 13,792 | 11.8% |
| 30-60k | 95,363 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 125,719 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 64,621 | 23.1% |
| 120-150k | 22,178 | 24.1% |
| 150k+ | 8,871 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 196,287 | 20.1% |
| Diesel | 134,361 | 21.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 68,126 | 19.3% |
| 2022 | 67,427 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 67,427 | 21.2% |
| 2024 | 64,936 | 21.0% |
| 2025 | 62,753 | 21.7% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Astra
On a 2014 Astra, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (9.3% 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 (7.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2014 Vauxhall Astras pass their MOT?
79.4% of the 330,669 2014 Vauxhall Astra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Vauxhall Astra?
Suspension, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.8%).
Does the 2014 Astra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.8% in the 0-30k band to 24.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 330,669 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.