2001 Vauxhall Corsa — MOT failures & pass rate
30,851 MOT tests on the 2001 Vauxhall Corsa are in this dataset, and 68.2% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (29.5% fail rate), the 2001 Corsa comes out 2.4pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.8%) and suspension (16.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and joints — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,300 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 22.4% in the 0-30k band and 36.0% in the 150k+ band, a 13.6-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.4% in 2021 to 29.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 5,167 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.5% | 5,087 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.4% | 3,525 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.3% | 3,491 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.6% | 2,659 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.0% | 1,847 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 2,300 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 2,223 |
| 3 | Joints | 2,170 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 1,981 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 1,673 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,593 |
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 | 29.0% | 8,945 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.9% | 8,922 |
| 3 | Brakes | 27.4% | 8,461 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.9% | 7,064 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.3% | 6,249 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 6,139 |
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 | 1,227 | 22.4% |
| 30-60k | 7,704 | 28.5% |
| 60-90k | 11,100 | 31.4% |
| 90-120k | 7,189 | 35.2% |
| 120-150k | 2,554 | 36.6% |
| 150k+ | 863 | 36.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 30,355 | 31.9% |
| Diesel | 496 | 31.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,263 | 33.4% |
| 2022 | 7,418 | 31.3% |
| 2023 | 5,721 | 31.6% |
| 2024 | 4,301 | 31.1% |
| 2025 | 3,148 | 29.7% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Corsa
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.5% 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.
- Brakes (11.4% 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 2001 Vauxhall Corsas pass their MOT?
68.2% of the 30,851 2001 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Vauxhall Corsa?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.8% of tests, followed by suspension (16.5%).
Does the 2001 Corsa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.4% in the 0-30k band to 36.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 30,851 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.