2012 Vauxhall Combo — MOT failures & pass rate
22,074 MOT tests on the 2012 Vauxhall Combo are in this dataset, and 70.3% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 25.4% of the time, so this is 4.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (18.8%) and lighting & signalling (16.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 2,402 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.4% once past 150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 31.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.8% | 4,155 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 3,604 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.9% | 1,740 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.1% | 1,565 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.7% | 1,468 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 1,288 |
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 | 2,402 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,375 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,025 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 977 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 947 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 932 |
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 | 31.4% | 6,938 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.7% | 6,342 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.0% | 4,847 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 3,559 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.8% | 3,479 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.3% | 2,933 |
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 | 500 | 25.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,707 | 25.1% |
| 60-90k | 4,623 | 29.0% |
| 90-120k | 6,799 | 30.0% |
| 120-150k | 5,062 | 31.0% |
| 150k+ | 3,252 | 30.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 21,932 | 29.7% |
| Petrol | 142 | 23.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,136 | 29.0% |
| 2022 | 4,917 | 29.4% |
| 2023 | 4,556 | 29.9% |
| 2024 | 4,016 | 30.4% |
| 2025 | 3,449 | 29.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Combo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 18.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (18.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (16.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.9% 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 2012 Vauxhall Combos pass their MOT?
70.3% of the 22,074 2012 Vauxhall Combo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Vauxhall Combo?
Suspension, recorded in 18.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.3%).
Does the 2012 Combo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.4% in the 0-30k band to 30.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,074 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.