Vauxhall Brava MOT pass rate & common failures
The Vauxhall Brava appears in 2,216 MOT tests spanning model years 1989–2020, and 73.0% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (26.0% fail rate), the Brava comes out 1.1pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.5% of all tests — 5.2 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, service brake performance and headlamp aim — headlamp alone was recorded 166 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.8% in the 0-30k band and 32.4% in the 150k+ band, a 13.6-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.3% in 2021 to 25.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Brava model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 48 | 87.5% | 12.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 61 | 63.9% | 36.1% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1995 | 66 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 86 | 76.7% | 23.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 248 | 75.4% | 24.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 340 | 68.5% | 31.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 352 | 74.4% | 25.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 356 | 72.8% | 27.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 443 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 157 | 73.3% | 26.8% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 388 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.3% | 272 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.6% | 257 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.3% | 250 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.6% | 147 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 72 |
| 7 | Tyres | 2.8% | 61 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.3% | 51 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 166 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 166 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 159 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 146 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 136 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 118 |
| 7 | Rear fog lamp | 118 |
| 8 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 103 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 36.1% | 799 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.5% | 743 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.1% | 557 |
| 4 | Tyres | 16.8% | 373 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.5% | 300 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.5% | 298 |
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 | 80 | 18.8% |
| 30-60k | 189 | 20.1% |
| 60-90k | 440 | 23.2% |
| 90-120k | 522 | 27.8% |
| 120-150k | 496 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 488 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,177 | 27.1% |
| Petrol | 39 | 25.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 566 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 483 | 28.0% |
| 2023 | 449 | 27.6% |
| 2024 | 387 | 23.0% |
| 2025 | 331 | 25.7% |
What to check before buying a Vauxhall Brava
- Lighting & signalling (17.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.3% 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.
- Suspension (11.6% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Vauxhall Brava?
73.0% of the 2,216 Vauxhall Brava MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.0% fail rate, across model years 1989–2020.
What does the Vauxhall Brava most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests, then brakes (12.3%).
How much does mileage affect Brava MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 32.4% for 150k+, a 13.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,216 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.