Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,081 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 53.5%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v MOT Reliability Overview
The Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,081 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 5 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 46.5% and a failure rate of 53.5%, which is significantly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v earns a "Very Poor" reliability rating. The average Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v presents for MOT with approximately 101,669 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2002 models achieve the highest pass rate at 63.3%, while 1999 models have the lowest at 42.4%. This 20.9 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 38.3% of all tests. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. The second most common issue is Brakes at 33.1%. Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions rounds out the top three at 23.1%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 74.0% | 800 |
| 2 | Brakes | 72.0% | 778 |
| 3 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 37.7% | 407 |
| 4 | Tyres | 31.0% | 335 |
| 5 | Suspension | 28.6% | 309 |
| 6 | Driver's View Of The Road | 21.4% | 231 |
| 7 | Steering | 6.7% | 72 |
| 8 | Body, Structure And General Items | 2.8% | 30 |
| 9 | Items Not Tested | 2.5% | 27 |
| 10 | Registration Plates And Vin | 1.9% | 20 |
| 11 | Road Wheels | 1.5% | 16 |
| 12 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 1.4% | 15 |
| 13 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.3% | 3 |
| 14 | Non-component Advisories | 0.2% | 2 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 101,669 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 7.28 | 74.0% | 800 |
| Brakes | 7.08 | 72.0% | 778 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 3.70 | 37.7% | 407 |
| Tyres | 3.05 | 31.0% | 335 |
| Suspension | 2.81 | 28.6% | 309 |
| Visibility | 2.10 | 21.4% | 231 |
| Steering | 0.66 | 6.7% | 72 |
| Body & Structure | 0.27 | 2.8% | 30 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.25 | 2.5% | 27 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.18 | 1.9% | 20 |
| Wheels | 0.15 | 1.5% | 16 |
| Seat Belts | 0.14 | 1.4% | 15 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.03 | 0.3% | 3 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.02 | 0.2% | 2 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v has 101,669 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 5.26% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v MOT Data
The Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,081 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 5 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 46.5% and a failure rate of 53.5%, which is significantly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v owners, these results suggest above-average failure risk — thorough pre-MOT checks are recommended. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and brakes for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Astra Ls 8v is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.3% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 38.3% of MOT failures on the Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Brakes — 33.1% of failures
Brakes issues account for 33.1% of MOT failures on the Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 23.1% of failures
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions issues account for 23.1% of MOT failures on the Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v. Emissions failures occur when exhaust gases exceed legal limits for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), or particulate matter (diesel). Common causes include faulty oxygen sensors, clogged catalytic converters, or DPF issues on diesel vehicles. Typical repair costs: £100–1,000+. Pre-MOT check: If the engine management light is on, get it diagnosed before the MOT. For diesel cars, ensure the DPF has completed a regeneration cycle. Regular servicing and using premium fuel before the test can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v?
Based on 1,081 MOT tests in our database, the Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v has an overall pass rate of 46.5% (53.5% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v?
The top 3 reasons a Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (38.3%), 2. Brakes (33.1%), 3. Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions (23.1%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v reliable?
With a 53.5% MOT failure rate, the Astra Ls 8v is less reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Vauxhall Astra Ls 8v?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (38.3%); Brakes (33.1%); Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions (23.1%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.