2012 Vauxhall Movano — MOT failures & pass rate
1,180 MOT tests on the 2012 Vauxhall Movano are in this dataset, and 74.6% of them passed. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (25.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.0% of tests against 12.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, position lamp and rbt (sp) — joints alone was recorded 106 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.5% in the 0-30k band and 30.1% in the 150k+ band, a 11.6-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 32.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.2% in 2021 to 23.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 189 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.2% | 144 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 106 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.0% | 83 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.9% | 69 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.4% | 52 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 106 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 82 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 62 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 59 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 54 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 47 |
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 | 32.5% | 383 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.6% | 243 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 222 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.3% | 216 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.3% | 110 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.4% | 76 |
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 | 54 | 18.5% |
| 30-60k | 103 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 238 | 22.3% |
| 90-120k | 204 | 25.5% |
| 120-150k | 231 | 27.7% |
| 150k+ | 339 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 210 | 25.2% |
| 2022 | 224 | 25.4% |
| 2023 | 223 | 25.6% |
| 2024 | 273 | 27.1% |
| 2025 | 250 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Movano
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.2% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.0% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Movanos pass their MOT?
74.6% of the 1,180 2012 Vauxhall Movano MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Vauxhall Movano?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.0% of tests, followed by brakes (12.2%).
Does the 2012 Movano get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.5% in the 0-30k band to 30.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,180 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.