2020 Vauxhall Vivaro — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 35,459 MOT tests, the 2020 Vauxhall Vivaro recorded an 84.7% pass rate. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (14.5% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.0%) and visibility (7.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 2,708 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.7% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 19.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 3,529 |
| 2 | Visibility | 7.6% | 2,692 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.0% | 1,781 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.6% | 1,272 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 602 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.2% | 430 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 2,708 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,483 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,352 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 1,298 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 842 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 707 |
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 | 19.8% | 7,020 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.1% | 6,069 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 2,328 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.6% | 2,321 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.5% | 2,299 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 2,252 |
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 | 4,352 | 10.5% |
| 30-60k | 15,678 | 15.3% |
| 60-90k | 11,069 | 16.2% |
| 90-120k | 3,434 | 17.4% |
| 120-150k | 704 | 19.3% |
| 150k+ | 222 | 20.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 35,272 | 15.3% |
| Electric | 187 | 11.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 31 | 9.7% |
| 2022 | 300 | 8.7% |
| 2023 | 11,962 | 15.5% |
| 2024 | 11,735 | 15.8% |
| 2025 | 11,431 | 14.8% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Vivaro
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (7.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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.
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 2020 Vauxhall Vivaros pass their MOT?
84.7% of the 35,459 2020 Vauxhall Vivaro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Vauxhall Vivaro?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.0% of tests, followed by visibility (7.6%).
Does the 2020 Vivaro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.5% in the 0-30k band to 20.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 35,459 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.