Vauxhall Monaro MOT pass rate & common failures
2,395 MOT tests on the Vauxhall Monaro (2003–2007) give it an 86.1% pass rate. That is 13.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.5%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.6%) and brakes (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, catalyst emissions and track rod end — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 91 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.1% once past 150k — 3.1× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Monaro model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 552 | 83.7% | 16.3% | Brakes |
| 2005 | 812 | 85.8% | 14.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 738 | 88.5% | 11.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 288 | 85.1% | 14.9% | Emissions & environmental |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 135 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.3% | 128 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.0% | 95 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 87 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.7% | 65 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.6% | 63 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 43 |
| 8 | Visibility | 1.3% | 32 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 91 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 76 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 54 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 41 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 37 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 33 |
| 7 | Wipers | 32 |
| 8 | Flexible brake hoses | 31 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 27.5% | 658 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.9% | 405 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.2% | 365 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.7% | 209 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 199 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 159 |
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 | 220 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 610 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 907 | 15.2% |
| 90-120k | 452 | 16.8% |
| 120-150k | 139 | 18.7% |
| 150k+ | 52 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 537 | 14.1% |
| 2022 | 500 | 14.6% |
| 2023 | 470 | 12.8% |
| 2024 | 453 | 15.0% |
| 2025 | 435 | 12.9% |
What to check before buying a Vauxhall Monaro
- Lighting & signalling (5.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.3% 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.
- Suspension (4.0% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Vauxhall Monaro?
86.1% of the 2,395 Vauxhall Monaro MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 13.9% fail rate, across model years 2003–2007.
What does the Vauxhall Monaro most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.6% of tests, then brakes (5.3%).
How much does mileage affect Monaro MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 21.1% for 150k+, a 14.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,395 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.