2020 Vauxhall Corsa E — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 2,476 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Vauxhall Corsa E, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, suspension and tyres. Its pass rate of 86.6% was below the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 22.9% in the 60-90k group versus 11.1% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

2,476

MOT tests analysed

13.4%

Fail rate

worse than

vs cars of similar age

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 Corsa E
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Visibility	7.0%	174
2	Suspension	5.4%	134
3	Tyres	4.8%	119
4	Lighting & signalling	2.5%	63
5	Brakes	1.9%	46
6	Steering	0.2%	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 Corsa E
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Wipers	204
2	Linkage ball joint dust cover	83
3	Headlamp aim	49
4	Ball joint dust cover	41
5	Service brake performance	31
6	Tread depth	29

Top advisory categories

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

Most common MOT advisories — 2020 Vauxhall Corsa E
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	20.3%	502
2	Brakes	10.0%	247
3	Suspension	4.5%	112
4	Other defects	4.4%	108
5	Visibility	2.8%	68
6	Lighting & signalling	0.4%	11

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 Corsa E
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	1,747	11.1%
30-60k	638	18.5%
60-90k	83	22.9%

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 Corsa E
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	776	8.6%
2024	823	14.8%
2025	865	16.5%

What to check before buying a 2020 Corsa E

Before buying a 2020 Vauxhall Corsa E, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 7.0% of tests for this year.

Visibility (7.0% 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 (5.4% 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.
Tyres (4.8% 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.

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 Corsa Es pass their MOT?

86.6% of the 2,476 2020 Vauxhall Corsa E MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Vauxhall Corsa E?

Visibility, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by suspension (5.4%).

Does the 2020 Corsa E get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 22.9% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 2,476 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.