2018 Vauxhall Cascada — MOT failures & pass rate
272 MOT tests on the 2018 Vauxhall Cascada are in this dataset, and 88.6% of them passed. That is 2.3 percentage points worse than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 9.1%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (4.4%) and brakes (4.0%) 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 tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 14 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 3.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 4.4% | 12 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.0% | 11 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.2% | 6 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 5 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 5 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 4 |
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 | 14 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 8 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 6 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 4 |
| 5 | Wipers | 4 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 3 |
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 | 19.9% | 54 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.5% | 45 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.4% | 12 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 6 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.5% | 4 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.7% | 2 |
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 | 171 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 84 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 218 | 9.6% |
| Diesel | 54 | 18.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 53 | 3.8% |
| 2022 | 53 | 5.7% |
| 2023 | 56 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 52 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 58 | 17.2% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Cascada
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 4.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (4.4% 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.
- Brakes (4.0% 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.
- Tyres (2.2% 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.
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 2018 Vauxhall Cascadas pass their MOT?
88.6% of the 272 2018 Vauxhall Cascada MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Vauxhall Cascada?
Suspension, recorded in 4.4% of tests, followed by brakes (4.0%).
Does the 2018 Cascada get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 272 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.