2005 Vauxhall Corsavan — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Vauxhall Corsavan passed 66.6% of its 1,272 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 29.7% of the time, so this is 3.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (20.2%) and brakes (19.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 139 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 27.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 31.9% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.7% in 2021 to 32.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.2% | 257 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.1% | 243 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.1% | 230 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 142 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.0% | 114 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.8% | 99 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 139 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 125 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 111 |
| 4 | Joints | 108 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 108 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 77 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 37.0% | 471 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.9% | 380 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.9% | 368 |
| 4 | Other defects | 21.3% | 271 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.1% | 230 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 194 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 83 | 27.7% |
| 60-90k | 172 | 32.6% |
| 90-120k | 402 | 33.1% |
| 120-150k | 343 | 37.0% |
| 150k+ | 241 | 31.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,242 | 33.7% |
| Petrol | 30 | 23.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 398 | 33.7% |
| 2022 | 320 | 35.0% |
| 2023 | 245 | 30.2% |
| 2024 | 184 | 35.3% |
| 2025 | 125 | 32.0% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Corsavan
On a 2005 Corsavan, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (19.1% 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.
- Suspension (18.1% 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.
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 2005 Vauxhall Corsavans pass their MOT?
66.6% of the 1,272 2005 Vauxhall Corsavan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Vauxhall Corsavan?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.2% of tests, followed by brakes (19.1%).
Does the 2005 Corsavan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.7% in the 30-60k band to 31.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,272 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.