Vauxhall Tigra MOT pass rate & common failures
57,195 MOT tests on the Vauxhall Tigra (1994–2020) give it a 69.4% pass rate. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 21.3% of the time, so this is 9.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (14.3%) and brakes (14.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), coil spring and rigid brake pipes — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 4,469 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.7% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 30.6% fail against 32.7% for diesel, a 2.1-point gap across 57,195 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Tigra model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 94 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1996 | 91 | 79.1% | 20.9% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1997 | 168 | 81.5% | 18.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 209 | 79.0% | 21.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 287 | 72.5% | 27.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 420 | 73.3% | 26.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 2,011 | 68.8% | 31.2% | Suspension |
| 2005 | 7,701 | 69.1% | 30.9% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 12,706 | 68.9% | 31.1% | Brakes |
| 2007 | 11,744 | 68.8% | 31.2% | Brakes |
| 2008 | 9,626 | 69.2% | 30.8% | Suspension |
| 2009 | 11,979 | 70.2% | 29.8% | Brakes |
| 2010 | 83 | 68.7% | 31.3% | Brakes |
| 2011 | 36 | 72.2% | 27.8% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.3% | 8,176 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.3% | 8,167 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 7,499 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.3% | 4,150 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 3,837 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.5% | 3,687 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 2,719 |
| 8 | Steering | 4.3% | 2,444 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 4,469 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 3,658 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,582 |
| 4 | Wipers | 2,324 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 2,272 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 2,130 |
| 7 | Joints | 2,052 |
| 8 | Washers | 2,007 |
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 | 34.8% | 19,919 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.7% | 16,398 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.3% | 16,175 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.0% | 12,025 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.3% | 8,735 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.6% | 8,357 |
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 | 2,478 | 23.3% |
| 30-60k | 14,151 | 26.3% |
| 60-90k | 24,222 | 31.7% |
| 90-120k | 12,471 | 33.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,792 | 34.1% |
| 150k+ | 413 | 32.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 56,073 | 30.6% |
| Diesel | 1,122 | 32.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,913 | 30.8% |
| 2022 | 13,527 | 30.5% |
| 2023 | 11,386 | 30.7% |
| 2024 | 9,127 | 30.5% |
| 2025 | 7,242 | 30.3% |
What to check before buying a Vauxhall Tigra
- Suspension (14.3% 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 (14.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 Tigra?
69.4% of the 57,195 Vauxhall Tigra MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 30.6% fail rate, across model years 1994–2020.
What does the Vauxhall Tigra most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 14.3% of tests, then brakes (14.3%).
How much does mileage affect Tigra MOT results?
Fail rates run at 23.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 32.7% for 150k+, a 9.4-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Tigra more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 30.6% of the time against 32.7% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 57,195 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.