Vauxhall Astra: suspension MOT failures
Suspension was recorded as a failure area in 10.0% of Vauxhall Astra MOT tests — 437,022 tests out of 4,357,149. It shows up most on 2006 and 2008 cars.
Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair cost: £150–£450 per corner (rough UK ballpark, not a quote).
Suspension failures by year
| Model year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 266 | 3.4% |
| 1989 | 563 | 4.1% |
| 1990 | 668 | 4.9% |
| 1991 | 638 | 5.3% |
| 1992 | 559 | 8.4% |
| 1993 | 1,249 | 10.2% |
| 1994 | 1,771 | 11.2% |
| 1995 | 2,646 | 10.3% |
| 1996 | 2,453 | 14.1% |
| 1997 | 4,330 | 12.1% |
| 1998 | 4,927 | 12.8% |
| 1999 | 9,996 | 12.9% |
| 2000 | 16,385 | 12.7% |
| 2001 | 28,754 | 13.7% |
| 2002 | 50,317 | 14.8% |
| 2003 | 64,821 | 13.8% |
| 2004 | 74,460 | 14.2% |
| 2005 | 138,002 | 16.2% |
| 2006 | 198,659 | 17.3% |
| 2007 | 306,408 | 16.3% |
| 2008 | 296,441 | 16.6% |
| 2009 | 277,103 | 16.5% |
| 2010 | 356,248 | 12.5% |
| 2011 | 303,477 | 10.4% |
| 2012 | 333,443 | 8.7% |
| 2013 | 368,677 | 8.7% |
| 2014 | 330,669 | 9.3% |
| 2015 | 289,917 | 6.5% |
| 2016 | 326,868 | 2.3% |
| 2017 | 263,143 | 1.2% |
| 2019 | 95,868 | 0.5% |
| 2021 | 13,076 | 0.3% |
Methodology & source. 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.