2021 Vauxhall Corsa E Elite — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,368 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Vauxhall Corsa E Elite, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and suspension. Its pass rate of 85.6% was below the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 25.2% in the 60-90k group versus 12.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.1% | 452 |
| 2 | Visibility | 6.2% | 393 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 280 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 178 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.7% | 109 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 438 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 228 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 168 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 154 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 66 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 62 |
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 | 27.8% | 1,767 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.8% | 561 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.2% | 330 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.2% | 268 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 224 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 2.2% | 141 |
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 | 4,579 | 12.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,660 | 18.4% |
| 60-90k | 123 | 25.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 72 | 2.8% |
| 2024 | 3,045 | 11.4% |
| 2025 | 3,251 | 17.5% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Corsa E Elite
Before buying a 2021 Vauxhall Corsa E Elite, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 7.1% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (7.1% 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.
- Visibility (6.2% 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.
- 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.
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 2021 Vauxhall Corsa E Elites pass their MOT?
85.6% of the 6,368 2021 Vauxhall Corsa E Elite MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Vauxhall Corsa E Elite?
Tyres, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by visibility (6.2%).
Does the 2021 Corsa E Elite get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.7% in the 0-30k band to 25.2% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,368 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.