Vauxhall Nova MOT pass rate & common failures
5,083 MOT tests on the Vauxhall Nova (1983–2021) give it an 85.2% pass rate. That is 6.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.7%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.4% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 299 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Nova fails 13.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.2 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 15.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.1% in 2021 to 12.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Nova model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 45 | 88.9% | 11.1% | Brakes |
| 1984 | 168 | 86.9% | 13.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1985 | 379 | 83.6% | 16.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1986 | 178 | 84.8% | 15.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 256 | 87.1% | 12.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 572 | 84.4% | 15.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 760 | 86.2% | 13.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 480 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 786 | 84.1% | 15.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 1,087 | 86.8% | 13.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 358 | 83.2% | 16.8% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 531 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.6% | 333 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.3% | 270 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 238 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 199 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 160 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.3% | 66 |
| 8 | Tyres | 1.3% | 65 |
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 | 299 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 280 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 213 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 149 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 144 |
| 6 | Non catalyst emissions | 137 |
| 7 | Position lamp | 118 |
| 8 | Washers | 111 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.0% | 763 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.6% | 689 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.0% | 609 |
| 4 | Tyres | 9.4% | 477 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.0% | 459 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.3% | 271 |
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 | 1,303 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,643 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,441 | 17.8% |
| 90-120k | 495 | 14.1% |
| 120-150k | 51 | 13.7% |
| 150k+ | 37 | 10.8% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,010 | 14.8% |
| Diesel | 73 | 17.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,108 | 16.1% |
| 2022 | 1,134 | 16.7% |
| 2023 | 978 | 14.1% |
| 2024 | 947 | 14.3% |
| 2025 | 916 | 12.6% |
What to check before buying a Vauxhall Nova
- Lighting & signalling (10.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.6% 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 (5.3% 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 Nova?
85.2% of the 5,083 Vauxhall Nova MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 14.8% fail rate, across model years 1983–2021.
What does the Vauxhall Nova most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.4% of tests, then brakes (6.6%).
How much does mileage affect Nova MOT results?
Fail rates run at 13.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 10.8% for 150k+, a 2.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,083 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.