1995 Vauxhall Calibra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 467 MOT tests, the 1995 Vauxhall Calibra recorded a 78.6% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (24.2% fail rate), the 1995 Calibra comes out 2.8pp better. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (10.7%) and lighting & signalling (9.8%) 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 pins and bushes — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 60 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 31.7% versus 16.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.0% in 2021 to 21.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 10.7% | 50 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 46 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.2% | 29 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.6% | 26 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 26 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 18 |
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 | 60 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 13 |
| 4 | Wipers | 13 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 12 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 11 |
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 | 31.5% | 147 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.3% | 123 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 19.1% | 89 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 63 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.8% | 60 |
| 6 | Tyres | 11.8% | 55 |
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 | 83 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 94 | 22.3% |
| 90-120k | 101 | 19.8% |
| 120-150k | 90 | 20.0% |
| 150k+ | 82 | 31.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 96 | 25.0% |
| 2022 | 98 | 22.4% |
| 2023 | 102 | 20.6% |
| 2024 | 86 | 17.4% |
| 2025 | 85 | 21.2% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Calibra
On a 1995 Calibra, emissions & environmental is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Emissions & environmental (10.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (9.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.2% 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
How many 1995 Vauxhall Calibras pass their MOT?
78.6% of the 467 1995 Vauxhall Calibra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Vauxhall Calibra?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 10.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.8%).
Does the 1995 Calibra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.9% in the 30-60k band to 31.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 467 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.