2019 Vauxhall Vivaro — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 48,774 MOT tests, the 2019 Vauxhall Vivaro recorded an 83.3% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (15.3% fail rate), the 2019 Vivaro comes out 1.5pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.4% of tests against 5.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 1,984 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.3% versus 9.7%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 19.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.4% | 4,081 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.0% | 2,413 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.9% | 2,403 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.8% | 2,356 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.6% | 1,776 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 1,407 |
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 | 1,984 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,833 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,625 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,153 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,071 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 994 |
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 | 19.2% | 9,385 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.5% | 9,045 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.5% | 4,119 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 3,235 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.6% | 3,204 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.6% | 3,196 |
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 | 6,087 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 18,610 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 14,591 | 18.5% |
| 90-120k | 6,550 | 19.8% |
| 120-150k | 2,066 | 19.9% |
| 150k+ | 868 | 23.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 526 | 10.3% |
| 2022 | 11,602 | 14.7% |
| 2023 | 12,052 | 17.2% |
| 2024 | 12,502 | 17.6% |
| 2025 | 12,092 | 17.6% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Vivaro
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.0% 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.
- Suspension (4.9% 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.
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 2019 Vauxhall Vivaros pass their MOT?
83.3% of the 48,774 2019 Vauxhall Vivaro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Vauxhall Vivaro?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.4% of tests, followed by brakes (5.0%).
Does the 2019 Vivaro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 23.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 48,774 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.