2021 Vauxhall Mokka — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Vauxhall Mokka passed 90.4% of its 28,186 recorded MOT tests. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 7.2% of the time, so this is 2.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in visibility, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (5.3%) and suspension (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, linkage ball joint dust cover and ball joint — wipers alone was recorded 1,648 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 17.8% once past 60-90k — 2.3× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.4% of the time against 10.6% for electric.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.5% of tests failed in 2023 against 11.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 5.3% | 1,507 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.4% | 944 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.8% | 785 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 382 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 266 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 123 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,648 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 512 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 378 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 374 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 280 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 220 |
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 | 16.4% | 4,610 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.3% | 3,456 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.5% | 1,550 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.3% | 1,500 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 810 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.0% | 286 |
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 | 19,841 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 7,924 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 393 | 17.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 22,227 | 9.4% |
| Electric | 5,549 | 10.6% |
| Diesel | 408 | 10.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 219 | 5.5% |
| 2024 | 13,488 | 7.5% |
| 2025 | 14,472 | 11.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Mokka
On a 2021 Mokka, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (5.3% 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.
- Suspension (3.4% 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.
- Tyres (2.8% 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 2021 Vauxhall Mokkas pass their MOT?
90.4% of the 28,186 2021 Vauxhall Mokka MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Vauxhall Mokka?
Visibility, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by suspension (3.4%).
Does the 2021 Mokka get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 17.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,186 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.