2007 Vauxhall Tigra — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Vauxhall Tigra passed 68.8% of its 11,744 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 21.5% of the time, so this is 9.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (15.2%) and suspension (14.1%) 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 joints — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 968 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2007 Tigra fails 24.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 28.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.2% | 1,790 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.1% | 1,651 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 1,597 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 956 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.2% | 849 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.4% | 751 |
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) | 968 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 683 |
| 3 | Joints | 649 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 644 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 511 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 458 |
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 | 35.5% | 4,175 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.4% | 3,457 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.8% | 3,266 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.8% | 2,565 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.0% | 1,641 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.6% | 1,599 |
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 | 502 | 24.9% |
| 30-60k | 2,796 | 26.7% |
| 60-90k | 5,067 | 32.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,605 | 33.9% |
| 120-150k | 575 | 33.7% |
| 150k+ | 59 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 11,516 | 31.2% |
| Diesel | 228 | 33.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,257 | 31.7% |
| 2022 | 2,734 | 30.6% |
| 2023 | 2,368 | 31.3% |
| 2024 | 1,909 | 31.1% |
| 2025 | 1,476 | 31.4% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Tigra
On a 2007 Tigra, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (15.2% 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.
- Suspension (14.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.6% 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
How many 2007 Vauxhall Tigras pass their MOT?
68.8% of the 11,744 2007 Vauxhall Tigra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Vauxhall Tigra?
Brakes, recorded in 15.2% of tests, followed by suspension (14.1%).
Does the 2007 Tigra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.9% in the 0-30k band to 28.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,744 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.