1992 Vauxhall Rascal — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 312 MOT tests, the 1992 Vauxhall Rascal recorded a 70.5% pass rate. That is 6.5 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.9%) and brakes (16.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and service brake imbalance — service brake performance alone was recorded 40 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1992 Rascal fails 18.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 21.9% at 90-120k, a spread of only 3.0 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 25.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.1% in 2021 to 28.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.9% | 59 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.7% | 52 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.7% | 24 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 21 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.1% | 19 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 17 |
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 | 40 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
| 3 | Service brake imbalance | 31 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 28 |
| 5 | Horn | 21 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 20 |
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 | 25.6% | 80 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.1% | 66 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.9% | 62 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.4% | 48 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 35 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 31 |
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 | 37 | 18.9% |
| 30-60k | 142 | 34.5% |
| 60-90k | 101 | 28.7% |
| 90-120k | 32 | 21.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81 | 32.1% |
| 2022 | 67 | 23.9% |
| 2023 | 57 | 28.1% |
| 2024 | 55 | 34.5% |
| 2025 | 52 | 28.8% |
What to check before buying a 1992 Rascal
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.7% 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.
- Suspension (7.7% 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 1992 Vauxhall Rascals pass their MOT?
70.5% of the 312 1992 Vauxhall Rascal MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Vauxhall Rascal?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.9% of tests, followed by brakes (16.7%).
Does the 1992 Rascal get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.9% in the 0-30k band to 21.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 312 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.