Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 91 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 52.7%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d MOT Reliability Overview
The Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 91 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 47.3% and a failure rate of 52.7%, which is significantly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d earns a "Very Poor" reliability rating. The average Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d presents for MOT with approximately 126,919 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1998 models achieve the highest pass rate at 56.6%, while 1999 models have the lowest at 33.3%. This 23.3 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 40.7% 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 Driver's View of the Road at 22.0%. Suspension rounds out the top three at 20.9%. 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 | 92.3% | 84 |
| 2 | Driver's View Of The Road | 35.2% | 32 |
| 3 | Tyres | 33.0% | 30 |
| 4 | Brakes | 30.8% | 28 |
| 5 | Suspension | 29.7% | 27 |
| 6 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 22.0% | 20 |
| 7 | Steering | 7.7% | 7 |
| 8 | Body, Structure And General Items | 4.4% | 4 |
| 9 | Registration Plates And Vin | 3.3% | 3 |
| 10 | Road Wheels | 2.2% | 2 |
| 11 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 2.2% | 2 |
| 12 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 1.1% | 1 |
| 13 | Items Not Tested | 1.1% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 126,919 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 | 92.3% | 84 |
| Visibility | 2.77 | 35.2% | 32 |
| Tyres | 2.60 | 33.0% | 30 |
| Brakes | 2.42 | 30.8% | 28 |
| Suspension | 2.34 | 29.7% | 27 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 1.73 | 22.0% | 20 |
| Steering | 0.61 | 7.7% | 7 |
| Body & Structure | 0.44 | 5.5% | 5 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.26 | 3.3% | 3 |
| Wheels | 0.17 | 2.2% | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 0.17 | 2.2% | 2 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.09 | 1.1% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d has 126,919 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 Combo Se 1.7d has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.15% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d MOT Data
The Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 91 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 47.3% and a failure rate of 52.7%, which is significantly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d 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 driver's view of the road 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 Combo Se 1.7d is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.7% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 40.7% of MOT failures on the Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d. 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.
Driver's View of the Road — 22.0% of failures
Driver's View of the Road issues account for 22.0% of MOT failures on the Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d. Driver's View of the Road issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Suspension — 20.9% of failures
Suspension issues account for 20.9% of MOT failures on the Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d?
Based on 91 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d has an overall pass rate of 47.3% (52.7% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d?
The top 3 reasons a Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (40.7%), 2. Driver's View of the Road (22.0%), 3. Suspension (20.9%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d reliable?
With a 52.7% MOT failure rate, the Combo Se 1.7d is less reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Vauxhall Combo Se 1.7d?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (40.7%); Driver's View of the Road (22.0%); Suspension (20.9%). 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.