Vauxhall Omega MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 28 model years and 8,948 tests, the Vauxhall Omega passes its MOT 76.7% of the time. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 24.0%, so the Omega sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.9%) and suspension (10.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, rigid brake pipes and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 643 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.0% versus 9.2%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 23.2% of the time against 24.2% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.0% in 2021 to 21.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Omega model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 45 | 75.6% | 24.4% | Brakes |
| 1995 | 114 | 70.2% | 29.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 185 | 77.3% | 22.7% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1997 | 152 | 79.6% | 20.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 280 | 74.6% | 25.4% | Brakes |
| 1999 | 489 | 78.3% | 21.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 887 | 77.1% | 22.9% | Suspension |
| 2001 | 1,809 | 77.6% | 22.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 2,221 | 76.4% | 23.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 2,602 | 76.0% | 24.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 142 | 80.3% | 19.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 974 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.2% | 914 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.3% | 656 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 577 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 509 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.6% | 413 |
| 7 | Tyres | 4.5% | 401 |
| 8 | Steering | 3.6% | 323 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 643 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 559 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 554 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 445 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 315 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 269 |
| 7 | Wipers | 264 |
| 8 | Pins and bushes | 224 |
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 | 39.2% | 3,506 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.8% | 2,845 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.3% | 2,175 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.8% | 1,952 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.3% | 1,635 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 1,140 |
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 | 98 | 9.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,175 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 2,521 | 22.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,594 | 23.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,548 | 27.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,009 | 27.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 8,223 | 23.2% |
| Diesel | 710 | 24.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,756 | 24.0% |
| 2022 | 2,149 | 23.0% |
| 2023 | 1,689 | 22.9% |
| 2024 | 1,324 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 1,030 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a Vauxhall Omega
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.2% 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.
- Brakes (7.3% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Vauxhall Omega?
76.7% of the 8,948 Vauxhall Omega MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 23.3% fail rate, across model years 1994–2021.
What does the Vauxhall Omega most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.9% of tests, then suspension (10.2%).
How much does mileage affect Omega MOT results?
Fail rates run at 9.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 27.0% for 150k+, a 17.8-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Omega more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 23.2% of the time against 24.2% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,948 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.