2021 Vauxhall Movano — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Vauxhall Movano passed 82.7% of its 635 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 13.7% of the time, so this is 3.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.7% of tests against 5.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, malfunction indicator lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 47 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.4% in the 0-30k band and 20.6% in the 150k+ band, a 11.2-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.9% 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 | 10.7% | 68 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.5% | 35 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.3% | 27 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 21 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 20 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 11 |
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 | 47 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 21 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 19 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 17 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 14 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 14 |
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 | 16.9% | 107 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.1% | 83 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 55 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.7% | 49 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.4% | 28 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.6% | 23 |
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 | 128 | 9.4% |
| 30-60k | 292 | 17.8% |
| 60-90k | 95 | 17.9% |
| 90-120k | 54 | 27.8% |
| 120-150k | 32 | 21.9% |
| 150k+ | 34 | 20.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 298 | 17.4% |
| 2025 | 306 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Movano
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.5% 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.
- Tyres (4.3% 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 Movanos pass their MOT?
82.7% of the 635 2021 Vauxhall Movano MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Vauxhall Movano?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.7% of tests, followed by brakes (5.5%).
Does the 2021 Movano get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.4% in the 0-30k band to 20.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 635 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.