2005 Vauxhall Vivaro — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 46,658 MOT tests, the 2005 Vauxhall Vivaro recorded a 67.4% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 29.8% of the time, so this is 2.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (21.9%) and suspension (20.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, position lamp and track rod end — ball joint alone was recorded 5,949 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 26.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.9% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 38.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.9% | 10,220 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.1% | 9,353 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.3% | 7,602 |
| 4 | Steering | 9.2% | 4,279 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.8% | 4,121 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 3,005 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 5,949 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 4,373 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 4,252 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 3,769 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 3,511 |
| 6 | Washers | 2,549 |
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 | 38.7% | 18,053 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.6% | 17,562 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 27.5% | 12,826 |
| 4 | Tyres | 25.0% | 11,681 |
| 5 | Other defects | 22.0% | 10,251 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 6,782 |
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 | 107 | 26.2% |
| 30-60k | 362 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,589 | 29.8% |
| 90-120k | 8,252 | 32.3% |
| 120-150k | 12,866 | 33.2% |
| 150k+ | 22,352 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 46,604 | 32.6% |
| Petrol | 54 | 33.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,223 | 33.0% |
| 2022 | 10,872 | 32.9% |
| 2023 | 9,355 | 32.3% |
| 2024 | 7,800 | 32.4% |
| 2025 | 6,408 | 32.2% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Vivaro
On a 2005 Vivaro, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (21.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (20.1% 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.
- Brakes (16.3% 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.
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 2005 Vauxhall Vivaros pass their MOT?
67.4% of the 46,658 2005 Vauxhall Vivaro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Vauxhall Vivaro?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.9% of tests, followed by suspension (20.1%).
Does the 2005 Vivaro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.2% in the 0-30k band to 32.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 46,658 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.