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1988 Vauxhall Nova — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age

38 years
Current Age
80.9%
Latest Pass Rate
4,097
Total Tests (All Years)
53,265 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 1988 Vauxhall Nova as it ages.

21 yrs47.0%
22 yrs47.3%
23 yrs50.6%
24 yrs49.0%
25 yrs51.0%
26 yrs62.8%
27 yrs67.1%
28 yrs68.8%
29 yrs69.4%
30 yrs68.7%
31 yrs64.4%
32 yrs76.1%
33 yrs74.2%
34 yrs67.3%
35 yrs78.7%
36 yrs80.9%

Bar chart showing pass rate by car age from 21 to 36 years

Fail Rate %
📊 View as table
AgePass RateTests
21 yrs47.0%758
22 yrs47.3%598
23 yrs50.6%464
24 yrs49.0%355
25 yrs51.0%294
26 yrs62.8%247
27 yrs67.1%222
28 yrs68.8%186
29 yrs69.4%160
30 yrs68.7%115
31 yrs64.4%104
32 yrs76.1%88
33 yrs74.2%120
34 yrs67.3%98
35 yrs78.7%94
36 yrs80.9%194

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1988 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 (36 yrs)80.9%194
2023 (35 yrs)78.7%94
2022 (34 yrs)67.3%98
2021 (33 yrs)74.2%120
2020 (32 yrs)76.1%88
2019 (31 yrs)64.4%104
2018 (30 yrs)68.7%115
2017 (29 yrs)69.4%160
2016 (28 yrs)68.8%186
2015 (27 yrs)67.1%222
2014 (26 yrs)62.8%247
2013 (25 yrs)51%294
2012 (24 yrs)49%355
2011 (23 yrs)50.6%464
2010 (22 yrs)47.3%598
2009 (21 yrs)47%758

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate
47.0%
Age (yrs) 21Tests 758Avg Mileage 54,111Top Failure Suspension — 33.6%
2010High Fail Rate
47.3%
Age (yrs) 22Tests 598Avg Mileage 56,061Top Failure Suspension — 29.3%
2011High Fail Rate
50.6%
Age (yrs) 23Tests 464Avg Mileage 55,414Top Failure Suspension — 31.0%
2012High Fail Rate
49.0%
Age (yrs) 24Tests 355Avg Mileage 55,478Top Failure Suspension — 29.3%
2013High Fail Rate
51.0%
Age (yrs) 25Tests 294Avg Mileage 53,627Top Failure Suspension — 74.8%
2014High Fail Rate
62.8%
Age (yrs) 26Tests 247Avg Mileage 55,582Top Failure Suspension — 49.8%
2015
67.1%
Age (yrs) 27Tests 222Avg Mileage 55,625Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.1%
2016
68.8%
Age (yrs) 28Tests 186Avg Mileage 55,941Top Failure Suspension — 41.9%
2017
69.4%
Age (yrs) 29Tests 160Avg Mileage 55,777Top Failure Suspension — 43.8%
2018
68.7%
Age (yrs) 30Tests 115Avg Mileage 52,635Top Failure Suspension — 40.9%
2019High Fail Rate
64.4%
Age (yrs) 31Tests 104Avg Mileage 51,276Top Failure Suspension — 56.7%
2020
76.1%
Age (yrs) 32Tests 88Avg Mileage 47,570Top Failure Brakes — 35.2%
2021
74.2%
Age (yrs) 33Tests 120Avg Mileage 52,973Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 29.2%
2022
67.3%
Age (yrs) 34Tests 98Avg Mileage 51,757Top Failure Brakes — 46.9%
2023
78.7%
Age (yrs) 35Tests 94Avg Mileage 52,653Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 20.2%
2024
80.9%
Age (yrs) 36Tests 194Avg Mileage 53,265Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 16.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1988 Vauxhall Nova, with age trends.

Suspension
36.3%
↓ Decreases with age
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment
30.6%
— Consistent
Brakes
30.0%
↓ Decreases with age
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
22.3%
↓ Decreases with age
Body, chassis, structure
17.0%
↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

CategoryAt YoungestAt OldestChangeTrend
Suspension33.6% (21 yrs)12.4% (36 yrs)
-21.2%
🟢 ↓
Brakes26.3% (21 yrs)13.4% (36 yrs)
-12.9%
🟢 ↓

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 1988 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 4,097 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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