2017 Vauxhall Corsa — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 307,706 MOT tests, the 2017 Vauxhall Corsa recorded an 84.1% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (13.4% fail rate), the 2017 Corsa comes out 2.5pp worse. Failures cluster in visibility, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (5.3%) and suspension (4.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, track rod end and coil spring — wipers alone was recorded 15,066 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.6% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 15.9% of the time against 16.2% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 5.3% | 16,251 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.7% | 14,465 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.5% | 13,788 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.3% | 13,087 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 11,305 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.2% | 9,822 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 15,066 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 13,311 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 10,099 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 7,699 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 6,238 |
| 6 | Washers | 5,212 |
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 | 27.7% | 85,168 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.4% | 47,340 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.3% | 31,715 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.6% | 20,405 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.6% | 17,130 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 8,531 |
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 | 101,961 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 147,706 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 46,625 | 21.6% |
| 90-120k | 8,995 | 22.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,796 | 21.7% |
| 150k+ | 607 | 22.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 294,140 | 15.9% |
| Diesel | 13,560 | 16.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 59,092 | 11.6% |
| 2022 | 59,926 | 12.7% |
| 2023 | 61,343 | 15.1% |
| 2024 | 62,423 | 18.1% |
| 2025 | 64,922 | 21.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Corsa
On a 2017 Corsa, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (5.3% 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 (4.7% 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 (4.5% 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 2017 Vauxhall Corsas pass their MOT?
84.1% of the 307,706 2017 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Vauxhall Corsa?
Visibility, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by suspension (4.7%).
Does the 2017 Corsa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 22.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 307,706 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.