2019 Vauxhall Viva — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 17,731 MOT tests, the 2019 Vauxhall Viva recorded a 92.8% pass rate. That is 1.5 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 8.7%. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (5.6%) and tyres (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and washers — wipers alone was recorded 1,077 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.3% once past 90-120k — 5.0× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 3.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 5.6% | 985 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.0% | 539 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 315 |
| 4 | Steering | 0.9% | 163 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.9% | 161 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 90 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,077 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 218 |
| 3 | Washers | 202 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 185 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 134 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 127 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 18.6% | 3,303 |
| 2 | Other defects | 5.7% | 1,007 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.3% | 930 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 631 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 560 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.2% | 398 |
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 | 13,206 | 5.3% |
| 30-60k | 4,015 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 436 | 17.7% |
| 90-120k | 57 | 26.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 150 | 3.3% |
| 2022 | 4,407 | 4.2% |
| 2023 | 4,394 | 6.1% |
| 2024 | 4,309 | 8.6% |
| 2025 | 4,471 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Viva
On a 2019 Viva, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (5.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (3.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (1.8% 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 2019 Vauxhall Vivas pass their MOT?
92.8% of the 17,731 2019 Vauxhall Viva MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Vauxhall Viva?
Visibility, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by tyres (3.0%).
Does the 2019 Viva get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 0-30k band to 26.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,731 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.