2018 Vauxhall Movano — MOT failures & pass rate
1,190 MOT tests on the 2018 Vauxhall Movano are in this dataset, and 81.8% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (16.1% fail rate), the 2018 Movano comes out 2.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests against 7.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 87 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2018 Movano fails 12.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 13.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.5 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 15.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 195 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.1% | 85 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.1% | 61 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 45 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.7% | 32 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 31 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 87 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 69 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 48 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 43 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 40 |
| 6 | Wipers | 39 |
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 | 15.0% | 179 |
| 2 | Tyres | 13.6% | 162 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 119 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.8% | 69 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.6% | 67 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 58 |
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 | 342 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 318 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 221 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 144 | 21.5% |
| 120-150k | 75 | 24.0% |
| 150k+ | 90 | 13.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 265 | 17.4% |
| 2022 | 223 | 16.1% |
| 2023 | 224 | 18.3% |
| 2024 | 248 | 21.4% |
| 2025 | 230 | 17.8% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Movano
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.1% 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.
- Visibility (5.1% 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 Movanos pass their MOT?
81.8% of the 1,190 2018 Vauxhall Movano MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Vauxhall Movano?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by brakes (7.1%).
Does the 2018 Movano get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 13.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,190 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.