1987 Vauxhall Nova — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1987 perform at MOT as they age

39 years

Current Age

85.6%

Latest Pass Rate

1,579

Total Tests (All Years)

43,616 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 1987 Vauxhall Nova as it ages.

22 yrs58.5%

→ ↓4.6%

23 yrs53.9%

→ ↓3.9%

24 yrs50.0%

→ ↑3.8%

25 yrs53.8%

→ ↑4.8%

26 yrs58.6%

→ ↑1.8%

27 yrs60.4%

→ ↑9.4%

28 yrs69.8%

→ ↑0.7%

29 yrs70.5%

→ ↓0.4%

30 yrs70.1%

→ ↓2.7%

31 yrs67.4%

→ ↑3.2%

32 yrs70.6%

→ ↑10.4%

34 yrs81.0%

→ ↑2.7%

35 yrs83.7%

→ ↓8.2%

36 yrs75.5%

→ ↑10.1%

37 yrs85.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
22 yrs	58.5%	284
23 yrs	53.9%	241
24 yrs	50.0%	180
25 yrs	53.8%	130
26 yrs	58.6%	116
27 yrs	60.4%	96
28 yrs	69.8%	96
29 yrs	70.5%	61
30 yrs	70.1%	67
31 yrs	67.4%	43
32 yrs	70.6%	34
34 yrs	81.0%	42
35 yrs	83.7%	43
36 yrs	75.5%	49
37 yrs	85.6%	97

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1987 Vauxhall Nova pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (37 yrs)	85.6%	97
2023 (36 yrs)	75.5%	49
2022 (35 yrs)	83.7%	43
2021 (34 yrs)	81%	42
2019 (32 yrs)	70.6%	34
2018 (31 yrs)	67.4%	43
2017 (30 yrs)	70.1%	67
2016 (29 yrs)	70.5%	61
2015 (28 yrs)	69.8%	96
2014 (27 yrs)	60.4%	96
2013 (26 yrs)	58.6%	116
2012 (25 yrs)	53.8%	130
2011 (24 yrs)	50%	180
2010 (23 yrs)	53.9%	241
2009 (22 yrs)	58.5%	284

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

58.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 284Avg Mileage 51,521Top Failure Suspension — 25.0%

2010High Fail Rate

53.9%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 241Avg Mileage 51,743Top Failure Suspension — 32.8%

2011High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 180Avg Mileage 50,896Top Failure Suspension — 27.2%

2012High Fail Rate

53.8%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 130Avg Mileage 48,993Top Failure Suspension — 28.5%

2013High Fail Rate

58.6%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 116Avg Mileage 47,991Top Failure Suspension — 58.6%

2014High Fail Rate

60.4%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 96Avg Mileage 47,821Top Failure Suspension — 54.2%

2015

69.8%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 96Avg Mileage 48,049Top Failure Suspension — 46.9%

2016

70.5%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 61Avg Mileage 46,924Top Failure Suspension — 39.3%

2017

70.1%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 67Avg Mileage 47,540Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 49.3%

2018

67.4%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 43Avg Mileage 43,918Top Failure Suspension — 27.9%

2019

70.6%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 34Avg Mileage 47,727Top Failure Brakes — 32.4%

2021

81.0%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 42Avg Mileage 52,540Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 21.4%

2022

83.7%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 43Avg Mileage 48,696Top Failure Brakes — 20.9%

2023

75.5%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 49Avg Mileage 46,273Top Failure Brakes — 51.0%

2024

85.6%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 97Avg Mileage 43,616Top Failure Suspension — 16.5%

MOT results for 1987 Vauxhall Nova by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	22	58.5%	284	51,521	Suspension — 25.0%
2010	23	53.9%	241	51,743	Suspension — 32.8%
2011	24	50.0%	180	50,896	Suspension — 27.2%
2012	25	53.8%	130	48,993	Suspension — 28.5%
2013	26	58.6%	116	47,991	Suspension — 58.6%
2014	27	60.4%	96	47,821	Suspension — 54.2%
2015	28	69.8%	96	48,049	Suspension — 46.9%
2016	29	70.5%	61	46,924	Suspension — 39.3%
2017	30	70.1%	67	47,540	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 49.3%
2018	31	67.4%	43	43,918	Suspension — 27.9%
2019	32	70.6%	34	47,727	Brakes — 32.4%
2021	34	81.0%	42	52,540	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 21.4%
2022	35	83.7%	43	48,696	Brakes — 20.9%
2023	36	75.5%	49	46,273	Brakes — 51.0%
2024	37	85.6%	97	43,616	Suspension — 16.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1987 Vauxhall Nova, with age trends.

Suspension

30.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

27.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

25.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Tyres

15.7%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

13.8%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	20.8% (22 yrs)	8.2% (37 yrs)	-12.6%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	25.0% (22 yrs)	16.5% (37 yrs)	-8.5%	🟢 ↓

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 1987 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,579 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.