2001 Vauxhall Omega — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Vauxhall Omega passed 77.6% of its 1,809 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.7 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.6%) and suspension (9.6%) 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, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 112 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 26.2% versus 14.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.3% in 2021 to 21.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 191 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.6% | 174 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.7% | 121 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 98 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 90 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 82 |
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 | 112 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 100 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 96 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 73 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 57 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 51 |
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 | 40.5% | 732 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.3% | 584 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 23.8% | 431 |
| 4 | Tyres | 23.2% | 419 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.1% | 346 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 232 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 235 | 14.0% |
| 60-90k | 511 | 21.7% |
| 90-120k | 500 | 21.6% |
| 120-150k | 361 | 28.5% |
| 150k+ | 183 | 26.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,755 | 22.2% |
| Diesel | 46 | 28.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 564 | 24.3% |
| 2022 | 427 | 21.8% |
| 2023 | 346 | 22.3% |
| 2024 | 250 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 222 | 21.2% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Omega
On a 2001 Omega, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.6% 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 (6.7% 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 2001 Vauxhall Omegas pass their MOT?
77.6% of the 1,809 2001 Vauxhall Omega MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Vauxhall Omega?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests, followed by suspension (9.6%).
Does the 2001 Omega get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.0% in the 30-60k band to 26.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,809 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.