2019 Vauxhall Combo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 74,657 MOT tests analysed for the 2019 Vauxhall Combo, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes. Its pass rate of 83.8% was below the average for vans of a similar age (84.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 19.9% in the 150k+ group versus 11.2% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 7,764 |
| 2 | Visibility | 8.3% | 6,200 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.4% | 4,042 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.5% | 3,329 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 1,380 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 1,249 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 5,387 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 4,358 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 3,247 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 2,442 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 2,287 |
| 6 | Washers | 2,216 |
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 | 23.3% | 17,412 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.8% | 13,262 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 6,015 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.1% | 4,548 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.7% | 4,250 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 3,142 |
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 | 18,592 | 11.2% |
| 30-60k | 32,256 | 17.2% |
| 60-90k | 16,919 | 18.7% |
| 90-120k | 5,303 | 19.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,192 | 19.3% |
| 150k+ | 387 | 19.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 67,009 | 16.8% |
| Petrol | 7,648 | 11.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 410 | 13.7% |
| 2022 | 18,593 | 15.3% |
| 2023 | 19,106 | 17.2% |
| 2024 | 18,473 | 16.2% |
| 2025 | 18,075 | 16.3% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Combo
Before buying a 2019 Vauxhall Combo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 10.4% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (10.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (8.3% 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.
- Brakes (5.4% 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 2019 Vauxhall Combos pass their MOT?
83.8% of the 74,657 2019 Vauxhall Combo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Vauxhall Combo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.4% of tests, followed by visibility (8.3%).
Does the 2019 Combo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.2% in the 0-30k band to 19.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 74,657 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.