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1985 Vauxhall Nova — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age

41 years
Current Age
77.3%
Latest Pass Rate
1,861
Total Tests (All Years)
49,121 mi
Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1985 Vauxhall Nova as it ages.

24 yrs58.1%
25 yrs61.0%
26 yrs57.0%
27 yrs59.7%
28 yrs57.0%
29 yrs65.4%
30 yrs62.2%
31 yrs74.0%
32 yrs69.2%
33 yrs72.4%
34 yrs79.4%
35 yrs74.5%
36 yrs78.8%
37 yrs75.8%
38 yrs76.2%
39 yrs77.3%

Bar chart showing pass rate by car age from 24 to 39 years

Fail Rate %
📊 View as table
AgePass RateTests
24 yrs58.1%258
25 yrs61.0%223
26 yrs57.0%179
27 yrs59.7%139
28 yrs57.0%135
29 yrs65.4%130
30 yrs62.2%111
31 yrs74.0%100
32 yrs69.2%91
33 yrs72.4%58
34 yrs79.4%63
35 yrs74.5%47
36 yrs78.8%66
37 yrs75.8%66
38 yrs76.2%63
39 yrs77.3%132

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1985 Vauxhall Nova pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

Trend shows improving over 16 years

Pass Rate %
📊 View as table
BuiltPass RateTests
2024 (39 yrs)77.3%132
2023 (38 yrs)76.2%63
2022 (37 yrs)75.8%66
2021 (36 yrs)78.8%66
2020 (35 yrs)74.5%47
2019 (34 yrs)79.4%63
2018 (33 yrs)72.4%58
2017 (32 yrs)69.2%91
2016 (31 yrs)74%100
2015 (30 yrs)62.2%111
2014 (29 yrs)65.4%130
2013 (28 yrs)57%135
2012 (27 yrs)59.7%139
2011 (26 yrs)57%179
2010 (25 yrs)61%223
2009 (24 yrs)58.1%258

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate
58.1%
Age (yrs) 24Tests 258Avg Mileage 50,829Top Failure Suspension — 24.0%
2010High Fail Rate
61.0%
Age (yrs) 25Tests 223Avg Mileage 56,592Top Failure Suspension — 23.3%
2011High Fail Rate
57.0%
Age (yrs) 26Tests 179Avg Mileage 52,531Top Failure Suspension — 22.3%
2012High Fail Rate
59.7%
Age (yrs) 27Tests 139Avg Mileage 59,947Top Failure Suspension — 22.3%
2013High Fail Rate
57.0%
Age (yrs) 28Tests 135Avg Mileage 52,516Top Failure Suspension — 63.0%
2014
65.4%
Age (yrs) 29Tests 130Avg Mileage 48,562Top Failure Suspension — 47.7%
2015High Fail Rate
62.2%
Age (yrs) 30Tests 111Avg Mileage 49,157Top Failure Brakes — 63.1%
2016
74.0%
Age (yrs) 31Tests 100Avg Mileage 49,358Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.0%
2017
69.2%
Age (yrs) 32Tests 91Avg Mileage 47,062Top Failure Suspension — 39.6%
2018
72.4%
Age (yrs) 33Tests 58Avg Mileage 52,718Top Failure Brakes — 27.6%
2019
79.4%
Age (yrs) 34Tests 63Avg Mileage 50,446Top Failure Brakes — 27.0%
2020
74.5%
Age (yrs) 35Tests 47Avg Mileage 49,323Top Failure Body, chassis, structure — 21.3%
2021
78.8%
Age (yrs) 36Tests 66Avg Mileage 47,622Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 34.8%
2022
75.8%
Age (yrs) 37Tests 66Avg Mileage 51,472Top Failure Brakes — 37.9%
2023
76.2%
Age (yrs) 38Tests 63Avg Mileage 47,815Top Failure Brakes — 33.3%
2024
77.3%
Age (yrs) 39Tests 132Avg Mileage 49,121Top Failure Brakes — 22.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1985 Vauxhall Nova, with age trends.

Brakes
30.4%
↑ Increases with age
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment
28.5%
↑ Increases with age
Suspension
24.7%
— Consistent
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
17.4%
↑ Increases with age
Noise, emissions and leaks
13.0%
↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

CategoryAt YoungestAt OldestChangeTrend
Brakes19.0% (24 yrs)22.7% (39 yrs)
+3.7%
🔴 ↑
Suspension24.0% (24 yrs)21.2% (39 yrs)
-2.8%
🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Vauxhall Nova page →

About This Data

This page shows how Vauxhall Nova cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,861 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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