1991 Vauxhall Nova — MOT failures & pass rate
786 MOT tests on the 1991 Vauxhall Nova are in this dataset, and 84.1% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 22.3% of the time, so this is 6.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.2% of all tests — 6.6 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 67 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1991 Nova fails 14.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 14.8% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.8 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 15.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.2% in 2021 to 8.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 104 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.6% | 52 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.4% | 50 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 46 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 31 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 28 |
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 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 57 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 33 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 32 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 28 |
| 6 | Wheel bearings | 26 |
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 | 15.4% | 121 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.0% | 110 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.3% | 97 |
| 4 | Tyres | 8.4% | 66 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.9% | 54 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 42 |
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 | 164 | 14.0% |
| 30-60k | 251 | 18.3% |
| 60-90k | 222 | 17.1% |
| 90-120k | 101 | 14.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 167 | 19.2% |
| 2022 | 189 | 20.6% |
| 2023 | 151 | 12.6% |
| 2024 | 147 | 16.3% |
| 2025 | 132 | 8.3% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Nova
On a 1991 Nova, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% 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 (6.4% 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
How many 1991 Vauxhall Novas pass their MOT?
84.1% of the 786 1991 Vauxhall Nova MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Vauxhall Nova?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by brakes (6.6%).
Does the 1991 Nova get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.0% in the 0-30k band to 14.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 786 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.