2012 Vauxhall Vivaro — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Vauxhall Vivaro passed 68.8% of its 62,895 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (25.6% fail rate), the 2012 Vivaro comes out 5.7pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (19.5%) and suspension (17.4%) 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 6,980 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.9% versus 23.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 30.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.5% | 12,285 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.4% | 10,940 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.0% | 8,185 |
| 4 | Steering | 10.1% | 6,373 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.8% | 4,269 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 4,048 |
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 | 6,980 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 5,953 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 5,397 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 4,055 |
| 5 | Joints | 3,571 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 3,351 |
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 | 36.9% | 23,219 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.9% | 16,291 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.1% | 14,528 |
| 4 | Other defects | 13.9% | 8,741 |
| 5 | Visibility | 10.6% | 6,642 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 5,822 |
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 | 458 | 23.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,773 | 25.7% |
| 60-90k | 9,067 | 29.3% |
| 90-120k | 14,762 | 31.5% |
| 120-150k | 15,000 | 32.3% |
| 150k+ | 20,703 | 31.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 62,820 | 31.2% |
| Petrol | 75 | 32.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,377 | 30.1% |
| 2022 | 13,205 | 30.5% |
| 2023 | 12,891 | 31.5% |
| 2024 | 12,098 | 32.0% |
| 2025 | 11,324 | 32.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Vivaro
On a 2012 Vivaro, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.4% 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 (13.0% 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 2012 Vauxhall Vivaros pass their MOT?
68.8% of the 62,895 2012 Vauxhall Vivaro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Vauxhall Vivaro?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.5% of tests, followed by suspension (17.4%).
Does the 2012 Vivaro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.1% in the 0-30k band to 31.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 62,895 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.