2012 Vauxhall Astravan — MOT failures & pass rate
2,125 MOT tests on the 2012 Vauxhall Astravan are in this dataset, and 75.9% of them passed. That is 1.3 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 25.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.2%) and suspension (12.1%) 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 washers — coil spring alone was recorded 141 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 26.1% versus 21.7%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 32.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 259 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.1% | 258 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.3% | 155 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.0% | 149 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.3% | 133 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 72 |
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 | 141 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 125 |
| 3 | Washers | 114 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 104 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 93 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 81 |
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 | 32.1% | 682 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.9% | 551 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.6% | 502 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.9% | 296 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 232 |
| 6 | Visibility | 10.3% | 219 |
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 | 69 | 21.7% |
| 60-90k | 222 | 18.0% |
| 90-120k | 492 | 23.8% |
| 120-150k | 601 | 24.6% |
| 150k+ | 740 | 26.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 511 | 24.9% |
| 2022 | 483 | 24.2% |
| 2023 | 423 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 390 | 23.1% |
| 2025 | 318 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Astravan
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.1% 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 (7.3% 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 2012 Vauxhall Astravans pass their MOT?
75.9% of the 2,125 2012 Vauxhall Astravan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Vauxhall Astravan?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by suspension (12.1%).
Does the 2012 Astravan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.7% in the 30-60k band to 26.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,125 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.