2018 Vauxhall Corsa — MOT failures & pass rate
304,831 MOT tests on the 2018 Vauxhall Corsa are in this dataset, and 86.6% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail 11.2% of the time, so this is 2.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (6.6%) and tyres (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and coil spring — wipers alone was recorded 18,771 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.3% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 13.4% of the time against 14.3% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 6.6% | 20,070 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.0% | 12,272 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 11,745 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.3% | 9,942 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.1% | 9,598 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.8% | 5,542 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 18,771 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 7,823 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 7,194 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 6,992 |
| 5 | Washers | 6,726 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 5,357 |
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 | 24.8% | 75,465 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.6% | 41,547 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.6% | 19,999 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.2% | 15,819 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.9% | 11,918 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 8,495 |
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 | 151,521 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 121,316 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 26,030 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 4,561 | 20.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,027 | 21.5% |
| 150k+ | 356 | 21.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 291,628 | 13.4% |
| Diesel | 13,203 | 14.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 59,170 | 8.5% |
| 2022 | 60,204 | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 60,784 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 60,715 | 14.8% |
| 2025 | 63,958 | 18.6% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Corsa
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 6.6% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (6.6% 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.
- Tyres (4.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2018 Vauxhall Corsas pass their MOT?
86.6% of the 304,831 2018 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Vauxhall Corsa?
Visibility, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by tyres (4.0%).
Does the 2018 Corsa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 21.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 304,831 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.