2007 Vauxhall Corsa — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Vauxhall Corsa passed 71.4% of its 271,009 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.5%) and suspension (17.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 23,090 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.4% in the 0-30k band and 30.3% in the 150k+ band, a 11.9-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.5% of the time against 29.0% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.6% in 2021 to 27.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 47,447 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.5% | 47,331 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.8% | 18,336 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 17,693 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 17,313 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.0% | 16,151 |
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 | 23,090 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 16,022 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 15,379 |
| 4 | Washers | 14,043 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 13,556 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 12,168 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.7% | 91,202 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.1% | 81,618 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 21.7% | 58,864 |
| 4 | Brakes | 19.4% | 52,501 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 38,377 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.1% | 32,894 |
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 | 5,517 | 18.4% |
| 30-60k | 41,509 | 24.3% |
| 60-90k | 94,950 | 28.4% |
| 90-120k | 88,263 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 32,305 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 8,292 | 30.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 241,102 | 28.5% |
| Diesel | 29,905 | 29.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 74,365 | 29.6% |
| 2022 | 63,423 | 28.4% |
| 2023 | 54,003 | 28.4% |
| 2024 | 44,089 | 27.8% |
| 2025 | 35,129 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Corsa
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.5% 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.
- Visibility (6.8% 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.
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 2007 Vauxhall Corsas pass their MOT?
71.4% of the 271,009 2007 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Vauxhall Corsa?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests, followed by suspension (17.5%).
Does the 2007 Corsa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.4% in the 0-30k band to 30.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 271,009 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.