2018 Vauxhall Vivaro — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Vauxhall Vivaro passed 81.1% of its 70,437 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 16.2% of the time, so this is 2.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.6%) and lighting & signalling (7.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, malfunction indicator lamp and track rod end — brake pads alone was recorded 2,674 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.2% versus 10.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.6% | 6,070 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 4,996 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.8% | 3,385 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 2,970 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.0% | 2,838 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 2,246 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 2,674 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 2,616 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 2,547 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 2,144 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joints | 2,134 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 2,082 |
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 | 19.0% | 13,359 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.8% | 12,508 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.6% | 10,281 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.3% | 5,135 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 4,791 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.2% | 4,338 |
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 | 9,116 | 10.7% |
| 30-60k | 24,913 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 19,412 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 10,353 | 23.8% |
| 120-150k | 4,189 | 23.5% |
| 150k+ | 2,424 | 24.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,656 | 14.1% |
| 2022 | 13,864 | 16.2% |
| 2023 | 14,071 | 18.4% |
| 2024 | 14,505 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 14,341 | 23.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Vivaro
On a 2018 Vivaro, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.8% 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 2018 Vauxhall Vivaros pass their MOT?
81.1% of the 70,437 2018 Vauxhall Vivaro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Vauxhall Vivaro?
Suspension, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.1%).
Does the 2018 Vivaro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.7% in the 0-30k band to 24.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 70,437 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.