2017 Vauxhall Cascada — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Vauxhall Cascada passed 87.1% of its 1,174 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (9.8% fail rate), the 2017 Cascada comes out 3.0pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.1%) and tyres (4.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, brake pads and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 69 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.0% in the 0-30k band and 16.7% in the 60-90k band, a 8.7-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.1% | 60 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.5% | 53 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.1% | 36 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 30 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 26 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 20 |
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 | 69 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 37 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 28 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 21 |
| 5 | Washers | 19 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 15 |
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 | 20.2% | 237 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.0% | 188 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.8% | 44 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 29 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.1% | 25 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.0% | 12 |
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 | 488 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 560 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 108 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 829 | 12.6% |
| Diesel | 345 | 13.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 225 | 7.6% |
| 2022 | 236 | 10.2% |
| 2023 | 244 | 16.0% |
| 2024 | 232 | 14.2% |
| 2025 | 237 | 16.0% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Cascada
On a 2017 Cascada, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (5.1% 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 (4.5% 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.
- Brakes (3.1% 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
How many 2017 Vauxhall Cascadas pass their MOT?
87.1% of the 1,174 2017 Vauxhall Cascada MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Vauxhall Cascada?
Suspension, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by tyres (4.5%).
Does the 2017 Cascada get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,174 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.