2012 Vauxhall Mokka — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,167 MOT tests, the 2012 Vauxhall Mokka recorded a 76.4% pass rate. That is 1.3 percentage points worse than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 22.2%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 13.3% of all tests — 5.6 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, track rod end and coil spring — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 412 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.3% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 22.9% of the time against 24.1% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.3% | 688 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 399 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.7% | 295 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.5% | 235 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 219 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.8% | 195 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 412 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 250 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 245 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 219 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 152 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 152 |
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 | 26.9% | 1,388 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.5% | 1,264 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.3% | 1,049 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.9% | 665 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.2% | 525 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 451 |
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 | 79 | 15.2% |
| 30-60k | 928 | 18.1% |
| 60-90k | 2,302 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,367 | 26.9% |
| 120-150k | 418 | 27.8% |
| 150k+ | 73 | 23.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,770 | 24.1% |
| Petrol | 2,397 | 22.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,060 | 21.5% |
| 2022 | 1,049 | 21.3% |
| 2023 | 1,036 | 22.3% |
| 2024 | 1,016 | 24.8% |
| 2025 | 1,006 | 28.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Mokka
On a 2012 Mokka, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.3% 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 (7.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.7% 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 2012 Vauxhall Mokkas pass their MOT?
76.4% of the 5,167 2012 Vauxhall Mokka MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Vauxhall Mokka?
Suspension, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.7%).
Does the 2012 Mokka get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.2% in the 0-30k band to 23.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,167 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.