Vauxhall Rascal MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 14 model years and 1,471 tests, the Vauxhall Rascal passes its MOT 72.5% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 22.2% of the time, so this is 5.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.2% of all tests — 5.5 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, component mounting prescribed areas and position lamp — service brake performance alone was recorded 143 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Rascal fails 28.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 28.6% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.1 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 26.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.0% in 2021 to 27.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Rascal model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 60 | 78.3% | 21.7% | Brakes |
| 1987 | 31 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Visibility |
| 1988 | 124 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 64 | 70.3% | 29.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 281 | 73.0% | 27.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 477 | 73.0% | 27.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 312 | 70.5% | 29.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 120 | 70.8% | 29.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.2% | 282 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.7% | 201 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 113 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.4% | 109 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.1% | 104 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 86 |
| 7 | Steering | 5.2% | 76 |
| 8 | Tyres | 3.1% | 45 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 143 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 129 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 108 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 106 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 101 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 99 |
| 7 | Wipers | 79 |
| 8 | Horn | 64 |
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 | 26.3% | 387 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.5% | 361 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 15.3% | 225 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 221 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.0% | 206 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 139 |
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 | 262 | 28.6% |
| 30-60k | 491 | 27.9% |
| 60-90k | 542 | 26.8% |
| 90-120k | 161 | 28.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 367 | 30.0% |
| 2022 | 325 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 285 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 249 | 27.7% |
| 2025 | 245 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a Vauxhall Rascal
- Lighting & signalling (19.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.7% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Rascal?
72.5% of the 1,471 Vauxhall Rascal MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.5% fail rate, across model years 1986–1999.
What does the Vauxhall Rascal most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.2% of tests, then brakes (13.7%).
How much does mileage affect Rascal MOT results?
Fail rates run at 28.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 28.6% for 90-120k, a 0.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,471 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.