1991 Vauxhall Rascal — MOT failures & pass rate
477 MOT tests on the 1991 Vauxhall Rascal are in this dataset, and 73.0% of them passed. That is 4.7 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.1% of all tests — 8.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, position lamp and rear fog lamp — service brake performance alone was recorded 50 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1991 Rascal fails 34.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 37.1% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.7 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.1% | 96 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.2% | 58 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 35 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.3% | 35 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.7% | 32 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 31 |
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 | 50 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 46 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 38 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 37 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 35 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 25 |
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 | 27.3% | 130 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.2% | 101 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 16.1% | 77 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.1% | 67 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.1% | 67 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 48 |
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 | 90 | 34.4% |
| 30-60k | 155 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 193 | 28.0% |
| 90-120k | 35 | 37.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 104 | 28.8% |
| 2022 | 107 | 23.4% |
| 2023 | 86 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 92 | 28.3% |
| 2025 | 88 | 30.7% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Rascal
On a 1991 Rascal, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.2% 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 (7.3% 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
How many 1991 Vauxhall Rascals pass their MOT?
73.0% of the 477 1991 Vauxhall Rascal MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Vauxhall Rascal?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.1% of tests, followed by brakes (12.2%).
Does the 1991 Rascal get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 34.4% in the 0-30k band to 37.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 477 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.