Vauxhall Calibra MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 22 model years and 2,916 tests, the Vauxhall Calibra passes its MOT 79.4% of the time. That is 3.8 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.5%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.1%) and emissions & environmental (9.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and component mounting prescribed areas — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 331 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.1% in the 0-30k band and 26.4% in the 150k+ band, a 20.3-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.4% in 2021 to 18.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Calibra model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 37 | 86.5% | 13.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 41 | 95.1% | 4.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 98 | 82.7% | 17.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 174 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1994 | 314 | 75.8% | 24.2% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1995 | 467 | 78.6% | 21.4% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1996 | 871 | 80.4% | 19.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 742 | 78.3% | 21.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 162 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 294 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 9.5% | 276 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.1% | 236 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.3% | 212 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 172 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.7% | 109 |
| 7 | Tyres | 2.3% | 66 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.8% | 54 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 331 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 131 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 102 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 99 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 66 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 64 |
| 7 | Position lamp | 61 |
| 8 | Washers | 60 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 30.8% | 898 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.6% | 716 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 18.4% | 537 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.0% | 408 |
| 5 | Tyres | 12.8% | 372 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.0% | 350 |
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 | 66 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 324 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 625 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 792 | 21.2% |
| 120-150k | 653 | 23.6% |
| 150k+ | 455 | 26.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 670 | 23.4% |
| 2022 | 610 | 20.5% |
| 2023 | 617 | 22.0% |
| 2024 | 519 | 17.5% |
| 2025 | 500 | 18.6% |
What to check before buying a Vauxhall Calibra
- Lighting & signalling (10.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (9.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (8.1% 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.
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 Calibra?
79.4% of the 2,916 Vauxhall Calibra MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.6% fail rate, across model years 1990–2011.
What does the Vauxhall Calibra most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.1% of tests, then emissions & environmental (9.5%).
How much does mileage affect Calibra MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 26.4% for 150k+, a 20.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,916 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.