1994 Vauxhall Calibra — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1994 Vauxhall Calibra passed 75.8% of its 314 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (23.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: emissions & environmental, recorded in 13.4% of tests against 9.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 48 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.3% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 36.7% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.1% in 2021 to 22.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 13.4% | 42 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 29 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.3% | 26 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.3% | 23 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 18 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 13 |
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 | 48 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 18 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 4 | Emissions not tested | 12 |
| 5 | Joints | 10 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 9 |
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 | 30.3% | 95 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.9% | 72 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 19.4% | 61 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 47 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.8% | 37 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 28 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 60 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 87 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 72 | 25.0% |
| 150k+ | 60 | 36.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 83 | 24.1% |
| 2022 | 74 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 65 | 29.2% |
| 2024 | 47 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 45 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a 1994 Calibra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: emissions & environmental accounted for 13.4% of tests. Start there.
- Emissions & environmental (13.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.3% 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.
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 1994 Vauxhall Calibras pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 314 1994 Vauxhall Calibra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Vauxhall Calibra?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.2%).
Does the 1994 Calibra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.3% in the 60-90k band to 36.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 314 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.