2018 Vauxhall Mokka — MOT failures & pass rate
180,453 MOT tests on the 2018 Vauxhall Mokka are in this dataset, and 87.9% of them passed. That is 2.1 percentage points worse than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 10.0%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (4.6%) and lighting & signalling (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, ball joint dust cover and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 5,963 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.4% once past 150k — 3.4× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.0pp more often than petrol ones (13.9% vs 12.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 4.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 4.6% | 8,238 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 7,172 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.6% | 6,423 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.4% | 6,073 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.9% | 5,224 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 2,578 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 5,963 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 5,695 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 5,172 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 4,248 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,909 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 2,711 |
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 | 20.9% | 37,785 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.6% | 26,294 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.8% | 14,007 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.3% | 7,752 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 7,116 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 6,725 |
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 | 78,193 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 83,311 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 17,162 | 23.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,561 | 26.2% |
| 120-150k | 169 | 27.2% |
| 150k+ | 49 | 20.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 172,297 | 12.0% |
| Diesel | 8,156 | 13.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34,308 | 4.6% |
| 2022 | 34,619 | 7.3% |
| 2023 | 35,808 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 36,912 | 15.9% |
| 2025 | 38,806 | 19.6% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Mokka
On a 2018 Mokka, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (4.6% 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 (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2018 Vauxhall Mokkas pass their MOT?
87.9% of the 180,453 2018 Vauxhall Mokka MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Vauxhall Mokka?
Suspension, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.0%).
Does the 2018 Mokka get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 20.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 180,453 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.