2014 Vauxhall Mokka — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 196,570 MOT tests, the 2014 Vauxhall Mokka recorded an 80.0% pass rate. Against small SUVs of a similar age (18.7% fail rate), the 2014 Mokka comes out 1.3pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (10.8%) and lighting & signalling (8.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, coil spring and headlamp aim — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 14,489 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.4% versus 8.4%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.2pp more often than petrol ones (21.2% vs 19.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.8% | 21,265 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 15,676 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.5% | 8,752 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.3% | 8,550 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 7,936 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.8% | 5,406 |
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 | 14,489 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 7,038 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 6,578 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 6,528 |
| 5 | Wipers | 6,340 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 5,099 |
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 | 26.1% | 51,352 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.2% | 37,774 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.4% | 32,269 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.3% | 20,173 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.2% | 18,040 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.7% | 11,241 |
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 | 9,688 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 70,058 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 76,814 | 21.9% |
| 90-120k | 30,195 | 25.6% |
| 120-150k | 7,682 | 27.5% |
| 150k+ | 2,111 | 28.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 111,129 | 19.0% |
| Diesel | 85,441 | 21.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 37,745 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 38,632 | 17.4% |
| 2023 | 39,754 | 20.5% |
| 2024 | 40,329 | 22.7% |
| 2025 | 40,110 | 24.0% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Mokka
On a 2014 Mokka, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (10.8% 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 (8.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.5% 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 2014 Vauxhall Mokkas pass their MOT?
80.0% of the 196,570 2014 Vauxhall Mokka MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Vauxhall Mokka?
Suspension, recorded in 10.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.0%).
Does the 2014 Mokka get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 28.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 196,570 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.