Vauxhall Cavalier MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 28 model years and 7,129 tests, the Vauxhall Cavalier passes its MOT 79.7% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 22.8% of the time, so this is 2.5pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.8%) and suspension (9.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 581 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.5% versus 16.2%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 23.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.2% in 2021 to 18.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Cavalier model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 52 | 82.7% | 17.3% | Brakes |
| 1982 | 44 | 90.9% | 9.1% | Brakes |
| 1983 | 65 | 90.8% | 9.2% | Suspension |
| 1984 | 95 | 89.5% | 10.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1985 | 120 | 90.0% | 10.0% | Suspension |
| 1986 | 461 | 82.0% | 18.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 408 | 82.8% | 17.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 315 | 84.4% | 15.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 205 | 82.9% | 17.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 296 | 83.8% | 16.2% | Suspension |
| 1991 | 319 | 82.1% | 17.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 483 | 79.5% | 20.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 1,230 | 79.7% | 20.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 1,188 | 78.0% | 22.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 1,774 | 75.4% | 24.6% | Suspension |
| 1996 | 36 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 697 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.2% | 659 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 550 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.4% | 529 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 478 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 271 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.5% | 175 |
| 8 | Tyres | 1.7% | 123 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 581 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 453 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 254 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 223 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 210 |
| 6 | Wipers | 190 |
| 7 | Service brake imbalance | 181 |
| 8 | Exhaust system | 179 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 23.7% | 1,692 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.3% | 1,587 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 15.8% | 1,123 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.3% | 1,092 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.0% | 998 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.0% | 713 |
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 | 513 | 16.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,101 | 16.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,890 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,563 | 20.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,026 | 23.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,026 | 26.5% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,651 | 20.2% |
| Diesel | 478 | 22.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,781 | 22.2% |
| 2022 | 1,614 | 20.9% |
| 2023 | 1,418 | 20.0% |
| 2024 | 1,219 | 18.8% |
| 2025 | 1,097 | 18.7% |
What to check before buying a Vauxhall Cavalier
- 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 (9.2% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Cavalier?
79.7% of the 7,129 Vauxhall Cavalier MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.3% fail rate, across model years 1980–2007.
What does the Vauxhall Cavalier most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.8% of tests, then suspension (9.2%).
How much does mileage affect Cavalier MOT results?
Fail rates run at 16.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 26.5% for 150k+, a 10.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,129 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.