Vauxhall Cavalier Gli MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 77 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 57.1%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Vauxhall Cavalier Gli MOT Reliability Overview
The Vauxhall Cavalier Gli is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 77 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 42.9% and a failure rate of 57.1%, which is significantly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Vauxhall Cavalier Gli earns a "Very Poor" reliability rating. The average Vauxhall Cavalier Gli presents for MOT with approximately 118,010 miles on the clock. The 1992 manufacture year performs best with a 29.0% pass rate.
The most common MOT failure for the Vauxhall Cavalier Gli is Suspension, affecting 37.7% of all tests. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. The second most common issue is Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions at 26.0%. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment rounds out the top three at 23.4%. 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
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 | Suspension | 94.8% | 73 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 48.1% | 37 |
| 3 | Brakes | 44.2% | 34 |
| 4 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 42.9% | 33 |
| 5 | Tyres | 27.3% | 21 |
| 6 | Body, Structure And General Items | 20.8% | 16 |
| 7 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 19.5% | 15 |
| 8 | Driver's View Of The Road | 10.4% | 8 |
| 9 | Steering | 7.8% | 6 |
| 10 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 5.2% | 4 |
| 11 | Non-component Advisories | 1.3% | 1 |
| 12 | Road Wheels | 1.3% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 118,010 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 8.03 | 94.8% | 73 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 4.07 | 48.1% | 37 |
| Brakes | 3.74 | 44.2% | 34 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 3.63 | 42.9% | 33 |
| Tyres | 2.31 | 27.3% | 21 |
| Body & Structure | 2.20 | 26.0% | 20 |
| Seat Belts | 1.65 | 19.5% | 15 |
| Visibility | 0.88 | 10.4% | 8 |
| Steering | 0.66 | 7.8% | 6 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.11 | 1.3% | 1 |
| Wheels | 0.11 | 1.3% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Vauxhall Cavalier Gli has 118,010 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 Cavalier Gli has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.84% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Vauxhall Cavalier Gli MOT Data
The Vauxhall Cavalier Gli is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 77 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 42.9% and a failure rate of 57.1%, which is significantly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Vauxhall Cavalier Gli owners, these results suggest above-average failure risk — thorough pre-MOT checks are recommended. Focus your pre-MOT checks on suspension and exhaust, fuel and emissions 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 Cavalier Gli is likely to perform.
Suspension — 37.7% of failures
Suspension issues account for 37.7% of MOT failures on the Vauxhall Cavalier Gli. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 26.0% of failures
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions issues account for 26.0% of MOT failures on the Vauxhall Cavalier Gli. 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.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.4% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 23.4% of MOT failures on the Vauxhall Cavalier Gli. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Vauxhall Cavalier Gli?
Based on 77 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Vauxhall Cavalier Gli has an overall pass rate of 42.9% (57.1% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Vauxhall Cavalier Gli?
The top 3 reasons a Vauxhall Cavalier Gli fails its MOT are: 1. Suspension (37.7%), 2. Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions (26.0%), 3. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (23.4%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Vauxhall Cavalier Gli reliable?
With a 57.1% MOT failure rate, the Cavalier Gli is less reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Vauxhall Cavalier Gli?
Based on failure data, focus on: Suspension (37.7%); Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions (26.0%); Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (23.4%). 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.