2020 Vauxhall Movano — MOT failures & pass rate
939 MOT tests on the 2020 Vauxhall Movano are in this dataset, and 83.9% of them passed. That is 1.7 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 14.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.2% of all tests — 6.4 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, malfunction indicator lamp and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 67 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.0% in the 0-30k band and 21.5% in the 90-120k band, a 11.6-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 14.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.3% of tests failed in 2023 against 17.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 105 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 45 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.5% | 42 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.9% | 37 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 34 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 19 |
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 | 67 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 42 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 24 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 22 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 21 |
| 6 | Washers | 19 |
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 | 14.3% | 134 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 132 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 76 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.2% | 49 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.2% | 30 |
| 6 | Other defects | 3.0% | 28 |
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 | 251 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 366 | 17.8% |
| 60-90k | 200 | 19.0% |
| 90-120k | 65 | 21.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 281 | 15.3% |
| 2024 | 330 | 16.4% |
| 2025 | 305 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Movano
On a 2020 Movano, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (4.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (4.5% 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.
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 2020 Vauxhall Movanos pass their MOT?
83.9% of the 939 2020 Vauxhall Movano MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Vauxhall Movano?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (4.8%).
Does the 2020 Movano get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 21.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 939 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.