Vauxhall Vx220 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 16 model years and 4,670 tests, the Vauxhall Vx220 passes its MOT 86.9% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (27.4% fail rate), the Vx220 comes out 14.3pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.5% of all tests — 4.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 207 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.8% in the 0-30k band and 14.7% in the 120-150k band, a 6.8-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 13.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.7% in 2021 to 11.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Vx220 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 52 | 90.4% | 9.6% | Brakes |
| 2001 | 838 | 84.4% | 15.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 969 | 84.8% | 15.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 1,479 | 88.2% | 11.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 704 | 88.3% | 11.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 297 | 88.9% | 11.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 309 | 87.7% | 12.3% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 396 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.4% | 207 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 206 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 148 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.7% | 81 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.5% | 72 |
| 7 | Other defects | 1.4% | 66 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.0% | 46 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 207 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 171 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 139 |
| 4 | Washers | 96 |
| 5 | Horn | 87 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 78 |
| 7 | Position lamp | 77 |
| 8 | Anti-lock braking system | 72 |
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 | 13.5% | 632 |
| 2 | Tyres | 11.3% | 526 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.0% | 372 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.4% | 251 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.2% | 194 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 144 |
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 | 879 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,822 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,449 | 16.2% |
| 90-120k | 420 | 16.9% |
| 120-150k | 75 | 14.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 979 | 13.7% |
| 2022 | 965 | 14.1% |
| 2023 | 956 | 13.9% |
| 2024 | 905 | 12.6% |
| 2025 | 865 | 11.0% |
What to check before buying a Vauxhall Vx220
- Lighting & signalling (8.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.4% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (4.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Vauxhall Vx220?
86.9% of the 4,670 Vauxhall Vx220 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 13.1% fail rate, across model years 2000–2015.
What does the Vauxhall Vx220 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.5% of tests, then brakes (4.4%).
How much does mileage affect Vx220 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 14.7% for 120-150k, a 6.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,670 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.