2020 Vauxhall Combo Energy S/S Auto — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 1,599 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Vauxhall Combo Energy S/S Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 90.7% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 23.7% in the 60-90k group versus 8.1% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

1,599

MOT tests analysed

9.3%

Fail rate

in line with

vs cars of similar age

3.9

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2020 Vauxhall Combo Energy S/S Auto
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Visibility	6.3%	101
2	Tyres	3.8%	60
3	Lighting & signalling	3.6%	57
4	Brakes	1.6%	25
5	Body, structure & corrosion	0.4%	6
6	Suspension	0.3%	4

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2020 Vauxhall Combo Energy S/S Auto
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Wipers	107
2	Headlamp aim	41
3	Tread depth	24
4	Brake pads	22
5	Headlamp	15
6	Washers	14

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2020 Vauxhall Combo Energy S/S Auto
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	17.4%	279
2	Brakes	10.5%	168
3	Other defects	7.1%	113
4	Visibility	3.2%	51
5	Lighting & signalling	1.9%	30
6	Suspension	0.8%	13

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2020 Combo Energy S/S Auto
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	1,174	8.1%
30-60k	383	11.5%
60-90k	38	23.7%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2020 Combo Energy S/S Auto
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2022	37	8.1%
2023	532	9.2%
2024	509	7.9%
2025	521	10.9%

What to check before buying a 2020 Combo Energy S/S Auto

Before buying a 2020 Vauxhall Combo Energy S/S Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 6.3% of tests for this year.

Visibility (6.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Tyres (3.8% 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.
Lighting & signalling (3.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.

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 2020 Vauxhall Combo Energy S/S Autos pass their MOT?

90.7% of the 1,599 2020 Vauxhall Combo Energy S/S Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Vauxhall Combo Energy S/S Auto?

Visibility, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by tyres (3.8%).

Does the 2020 Combo Energy S/S Auto get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 23.7% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 1,599 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.