2010 Vauxhall Meriva — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 70,726 MOT tests, the 2010 Vauxhall Meriva recorded a 74.0% pass rate. That is effectively the same as MPVs of a similar age (25.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.2%) and lighting & signalling (12.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, rigid brake pipes and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 5,194 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.3% in the 0-30k band and 31.0% in the 150k+ band, a 10.7-point spread.
The diesel cars hold up better: 23.9% fail against 26.4% for petrol, a 2.5-point gap across 70,726 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.2% | 9,304 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 8,916 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 6,096 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.0% | 4,267 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 3,172 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 2,949 |
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 | 5,194 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,937 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 3,297 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 2,495 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 2,122 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 2,120 |
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 | 33.2% | 23,488 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.7% | 22,425 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.8% | 18,239 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.7% | 11,841 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.7% | 10,366 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.2% | 9,349 |
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 | 1,721 | 20.3% |
| 30-60k | 14,756 | 22.1% |
| 60-90k | 29,491 | 25.6% |
| 90-120k | 18,816 | 28.7% |
| 120-150k | 4,742 | 30.1% |
| 150k+ | 916 | 31.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 61,049 | 26.4% |
| Diesel | 9,677 | 23.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,782 | 25.1% |
| 2022 | 15,683 | 25.4% |
| 2023 | 14,577 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 12,849 | 26.7% |
| 2025 | 10,835 | 27.2% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Meriva
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.6% 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 Merivas pass their MOT?
74.0% of the 70,726 2010 Vauxhall Meriva MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Vauxhall Meriva?
Suspension, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.6%).
Does the 2010 Meriva get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.3% in the 0-30k band to 31.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 70,726 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.