1986 Vauxhall Nova — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1986 perform at MOT as they age

40 years

Current Age

76.1%

Latest Pass Rate

1,338

Total Tests (All Years)

53,598 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 1986 Vauxhall Nova as it ages.

23 yrs52.6%

→ ↑4.5%

24 yrs57.1%

→ ↑1.5%

25 yrs58.6%

→ ↑1.1%

26 yrs59.7%

→ ↓2.8%

27 yrs56.9%

→ ↑5.9%

28 yrs62.8%

→ ↑8.8%

29 yrs71.6%

→ ↓10.3%

30 yrs61.3%

→ ↑1.2%

31 yrs62.5%

→ ↑4.2%

34 yrs66.7%

→ ↑7.0%

35 yrs73.7%

→ ↑10.2%

37 yrs83.9%

→ ↓7.8%

38 yrs76.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
23 yrs	52.6%	285
24 yrs	57.1%	198
25 yrs	58.6%	162
26 yrs	59.7%	124
27 yrs	56.9%	102
28 yrs	62.8%	94
29 yrs	71.6%	81
30 yrs	61.3%	62
31 yrs	62.5%	64
34 yrs	66.7%	30
35 yrs	73.7%	38
37 yrs	83.9%	31
38 yrs	76.1%	67

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1986 Vauxhall Nova pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (38 yrs)	76.1%	67
2023 (37 yrs)	83.9%	31
2021 (35 yrs)	73.7%	38
2020 (34 yrs)	66.7%	30
2017 (31 yrs)	62.5%	64
2016 (30 yrs)	61.3%	62
2015 (29 yrs)	71.6%	81
2014 (28 yrs)	62.8%	94
2013 (27 yrs)	56.9%	102
2012 (26 yrs)	59.7%	124
2011 (25 yrs)	58.6%	162
2010 (24 yrs)	57.1%	198
2009 (23 yrs)	52.6%	285

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

52.6%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 285Avg Mileage 51,369Top Failure Suspension — 27.7%

2010High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 198Avg Mileage 52,822Top Failure Suspension — 26.3%

2011High Fail Rate

58.6%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 162Avg Mileage 49,728Top Failure Suspension — 26.5%

2012High Fail Rate

59.7%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 124Avg Mileage 47,268Top Failure Suspension — 23.4%

2013High Fail Rate

56.9%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 102Avg Mileage 52,024Top Failure Suspension — 49.0%

2014High Fail Rate

62.8%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 94Avg Mileage 53,567Top Failure Suspension — 37.2%

2015

71.6%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 81Avg Mileage 59,971Top Failure Brakes — 40.7%

2016High Fail Rate

61.3%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 62Avg Mileage 52,963Top Failure Suspension — 35.5%

2017High Fail Rate

62.5%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 64Avg Mileage 52,553Top Failure Suspension — 59.4%

2020

66.7%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 30Avg Mileage 60,159Top Failure Suspension — 53.3%

2021

73.7%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 38Avg Mileage 57,893Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 42.1%

2023

83.9%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 31Avg Mileage 57,817Top Failure Body, chassis, structure — 41.9%

2024

76.1%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 67Avg Mileage 53,598Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 29.9%

MOT results for 1986 Vauxhall Nova by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	23	52.6%	285	51,369	Suspension — 27.7%
2010	24	57.1%	198	52,822	Suspension — 26.3%
2011	25	58.6%	162	49,728	Suspension — 26.5%
2012	26	59.7%	124	47,268	Suspension — 23.4%
2013	27	56.9%	102	52,024	Suspension — 49.0%
2014	28	62.8%	94	53,567	Suspension — 37.2%
2015	29	71.6%	81	59,971	Brakes — 40.7%
2016	30	61.3%	62	52,963	Suspension — 35.5%
2017	31	62.5%	64	52,553	Suspension — 59.4%
2020	34	66.7%	30	60,159	Suspension — 53.3%
2021	35	73.7%	38	57,893	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 42.1%
2023	37	83.9%	31	57,817	Body, chassis, structure — 41.9%
2024	38	76.1%	67	53,598	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 29.9%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1986 Vauxhall Nova, with age trends.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

32.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

32.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

27.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

26.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

23.4%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	27.7% (23 yrs)	9.0% (38 yrs)	-18.7%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993

← Back to Vauxhall Nova overview

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 1986 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,338 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.