2011 Vauxhall Vivaro — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Vauxhall Vivaro passed 67.6% of its 78,343 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.8 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 26.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (19.7%) and suspension (18.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, ball joint and position lamp — track rod end alone was recorded 8,605 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 28.5% in the 0-30k band and 32.9% in the 150k+ band, a 4.4-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.7% | 15,412 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.7% | 14,650 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.0% | 11,745 |
| 4 | Steering | 10.0% | 7,813 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.1% | 5,560 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 5,171 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 8,605 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 7,888 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 6,355 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 5,776 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 5,770 |
| 6 | Joints | 4,630 |
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 | 38.0% | 29,761 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.5% | 20,721 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.6% | 18,514 |
| 4 | Other defects | 13.7% | 10,700 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.0% | 8,608 |
| 6 | Visibility | 10.8% | 8,465 |
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 | 368 | 28.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,344 | 25.6% |
| 60-90k | 8,986 | 30.6% |
| 90-120k | 17,291 | 32.5% |
| 120-150k | 20,133 | 33.2% |
| 150k+ | 29,047 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 78,256 | 32.4% |
| Petrol | 87 | 29.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,301 | 32.4% |
| 2022 | 16,643 | 31.9% |
| 2023 | 16,082 | 32.8% |
| 2024 | 14,886 | 33.0% |
| 2025 | 13,431 | 31.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Vivaro
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (18.7% 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 (15.0% 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 2011 Vauxhall Vivaros pass their MOT?
67.6% of the 78,343 2011 Vauxhall Vivaro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Vauxhall Vivaro?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests, followed by suspension (18.7%).
Does the 2011 Vivaro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.5% in the 0-30k band to 32.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 78,343 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.