2021 Vauxhall Astra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 13,076 MOT tests, the 2021 Vauxhall Astra recorded a 91.1% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 8.3%, so the 2021 Astra sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.2%) and brakes (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, malfunction indicator lamp and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 443 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.4% once past 90-120k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.6% of the time against 9.8% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 550 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.1% | 403 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 281 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 218 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 178 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 35 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 443 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 208 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 198 |
| 4 | Washers | 138 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 129 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 100 |
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 | 18.4% | 2,404 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.6% | 2,033 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.0% | 658 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 210 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 174 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 100 |
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 | 7,043 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 5,146 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 724 | 12.4% |
| 90-120k | 134 | 13.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,229 | 8.6% |
| Diesel | 2,847 | 9.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 88 | 5.7% |
| 2023 | 208 | 2.9% |
| 2024 | 6,361 | 8.9% |
| 2025 | 6,416 | 9.1% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Astra
On a 2021 Astra, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.2% 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.
- Brakes (3.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2021 Vauxhall Astras pass their MOT?
91.1% of the 13,076 2021 Vauxhall Astra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Vauxhall Astra?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by brakes (3.1%).
Does the 2021 Astra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 13.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,076 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.