2020 Vauxhall Vivaro 2900 S/S — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,945 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Vauxhall Vivaro 2900 S/S, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes. Its pass rate of 84.8% was below the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 27.3% in the 120-150k group versus 9.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 337 |
| 2 | Visibility | 8.0% | 235 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.4% | 158 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.6% | 106 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 48 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.1% | 33 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 232 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 151 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 130 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 117 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 114 |
| 6 | Washers | 54 |
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 | 19.9% | 587 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.7% | 461 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 258 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.2% | 212 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 182 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.6% | 166 |
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 | 253 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,343 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,030 | 16.7% |
| 90-120k | 259 | 17.0% |
| 120-150k | 44 | 27.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 51 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 958 | 16.4% |
| 2024 | 985 | 13.9% |
| 2025 | 950 | 15.6% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Vivaro 2900 S/S
Before buying a 2020 Vauxhall Vivaro 2900 S/S, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 11.4% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (11.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (8.0% 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.
- Brakes (5.4% 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.
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 2020 Vauxhall Vivaro 2900 S/Ss pass their MOT?
84.8% of the 2,945 2020 Vauxhall Vivaro 2900 S/S MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Vauxhall Vivaro 2900 S/S?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.4% of tests, followed by visibility (8.0%).
Does the 2020 Vivaro 2900 S/S get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 27.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,945 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.