2020 Vauxhall Corsa — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 152,752 MOT tests, the 2020 Vauxhall Corsa recorded an 89.7% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail 8.9% of the time, so this is 1.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Visibility dominates the failure mix at 6.7% of all tests — 3.0 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 11,739 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.3% in the 0-30k band and 13.0% in the 120-150k band, a 4.7-point spread.
Split by fuel, electric examples fail 4.7pp more often than petrol ones (14.6% vs 9.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.2% in 2021 to 10.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 6.7% | 10,246 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.7% | 5,652 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.9% | 4,404 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 2,994 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 1,395 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 599 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 11,739 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 2,798 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,502 |
| 4 | Brake discs | 1,930 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,872 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,325 |
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 | 20.0% | 30,551 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.8% | 25,687 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.7% | 7,245 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 5,273 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.2% | 1,872 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 895 |
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 | 89,216 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 58,684 | 12.7% |
| 60-90k | 4,447 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 339 | 17.7% |
| 120-150k | 46 | 13.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 140,397 | 9.9% |
| Electric | 9,722 | 14.6% |
| Diesel | 2,633 | 11.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 93 | 17.2% |
| 2022 | 1,503 | 4.5% |
| 2023 | 50,313 | 9.0% |
| 2024 | 50,586 | 11.4% |
| 2025 | 50,257 | 10.5% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Corsa
On a 2020 Corsa, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (6.7% 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 (3.7% 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.
- Brakes (2.9% 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 2020 Vauxhall Corsas pass their MOT?
89.7% of the 152,752 2020 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Vauxhall Corsa?
Visibility, recorded in 6.7% of tests, followed by tyres (3.7%).
Does the 2020 Corsa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 13.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 152,752 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.