2011 Vauxhall Astravan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,391 MOT tests, the 2011 Vauxhall Astravan recorded a 75.4% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (26.5% fail rate), the 2011 Astravan comes out 1.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.5%) and suspension (12.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, washers and coil spring — pins and bushes alone was recorded 332 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 25.8% versus 16.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 725 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.4% | 671 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.4% | 397 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.3% | 394 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.3% | 393 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 260 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 332 |
| 2 | Washers | 326 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 315 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 272 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 256 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 199 |
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 | 29.7% | 1,599 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.6% | 1,595 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.4% | 1,424 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.3% | 715 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 690 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.8% | 531 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 155 | 16.1% |
| 60-90k | 473 | 22.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,067 | 23.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,328 | 25.5% |
| 150k+ | 2,353 | 25.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,268 | 24.1% |
| 2022 | 1,180 | 24.0% |
| 2023 | 1,069 | 23.7% |
| 2024 | 986 | 25.5% |
| 2025 | 888 | 26.4% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Astravan
On a 2011 Astravan, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.4% 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.
- Tyres (7.4% 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 2011 Vauxhall Astravans pass their MOT?
75.4% of the 5,391 2011 Vauxhall Astravan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Vauxhall Astravan?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by suspension (12.4%).
Does the 2011 Astravan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.1% in the 30-60k band to 25.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,391 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.