2010 Vauxhall Corsa — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Vauxhall Corsa passed 73.9% of its 371,364 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.2 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 25.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests against 14.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and stop lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 29,702 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.7% in the 0-30k band and 29.8% in the 150k+ band, a 12.1-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 26.0% of the time against 27.2% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 65,997 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.3% | 53,180 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.1% | 22,546 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 20,403 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.5% | 20,401 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.3% | 19,491 |
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 | 29,702 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 19,933 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 19,045 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 17,453 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 17,290 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 15,739 |
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 | 28.6% | 106,140 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.6% | 102,383 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.4% | 68,158 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.5% | 54,044 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 51,219 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.8% | 39,954 |
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 | 13,738 | 17.7% |
| 30-60k | 79,850 | 22.3% |
| 60-90k | 146,079 | 26.5% |
| 90-120k | 96,680 | 28.6% |
| 120-150k | 27,933 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 6,960 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 325,289 | 26.0% |
| Diesel | 46,075 | 27.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 85,701 | 26.3% |
| 2022 | 81,126 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 76,252 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 68,249 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 60,036 | 26.6% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Corsa
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.3% 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 (6.1% 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 2010 Vauxhall Corsas pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 371,364 2010 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Vauxhall Corsa?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by suspension (14.3%).
Does the 2010 Corsa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.7% in the 0-30k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 371,364 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.