2011 Vauxhall Meriva — MOT failures & pass rate
98,497 MOT tests on the 2011 Vauxhall Meriva are in this dataset, and 77.6% of them passed. MPVs of a similar age fail 24.2% of the time, so this is 1.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 11.9% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 7,682 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.9% versus 12.6%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 21.9% of the time against 23.0% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 30.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.9% | 11,702 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 7,961 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.1% | 5,973 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.7% | 4,589 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 3,976 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 3,261 |
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 | 7,682 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 4,569 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,992 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 2,620 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 2,447 |
| 6 | Washers | 2,431 |
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 | 30.4% | 29,948 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.9% | 22,602 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.3% | 20,945 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.6% | 18,358 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.1% | 11,875 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 5,961 |
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 | 1,853 | 12.6% |
| 30-60k | 20,272 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 40,947 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 26,076 | 25.2% |
| 120-150k | 7,389 | 27.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,877 | 28.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 55,545 | 21.9% |
| Diesel | 42,952 | 23.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,857 | 20.5% |
| 2022 | 21,146 | 21.4% |
| 2023 | 20,306 | 23.2% |
| 2024 | 18,601 | 23.3% |
| 2025 | 16,587 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Meriva
On a 2011 Meriva, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (11.9% 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 (8.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.1% 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 2011 Vauxhall Merivas pass their MOT?
77.6% of the 98,497 2011 Vauxhall Meriva MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Vauxhall Meriva?
Suspension, recorded in 11.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.1%).
Does the 2011 Meriva get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.6% in the 0-30k band to 28.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 98,497 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.