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1989 Vauxhall Nova — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age

37 years
Current Age
81.1%
Latest Pass Rate
5,569
Total Tests (All Years)
59,331 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 1989 Vauxhall Nova as it ages.

20 yrs47.5%
21 yrs50.2%
22 yrs47.2%
23 yrs45.9%
24 yrs53.2%
25 yrs54.6%
26 yrs62.1%
27 yrs67.9%
28 yrs72.1%
29 yrs66.4%
30 yrs76.4%
31 yrs72.0%
32 yrs75.2%
33 yrs78.0%
34 yrs80.9%
35 yrs81.1%

Bar chart showing pass rate by car age from 20 to 35 years

Fail Rate %
📊 View as table
AgePass RateTests
20 yrs47.5%1,079
21 yrs50.2%783
22 yrs47.2%595
23 yrs45.9%479
24 yrs53.2%404
25 yrs54.6%326
26 yrs62.1%285
27 yrs67.9%246
28 yrs72.1%215
29 yrs66.4%137
30 yrs76.4%127
31 yrs72.0%107
32 yrs75.2%137
33 yrs78.0%127
34 yrs80.9%131
35 yrs81.1%391

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1989 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 (35 yrs)81.1%391
2023 (34 yrs)80.9%131
2022 (33 yrs)78%127
2021 (32 yrs)75.2%137
2020 (31 yrs)72%107
2019 (30 yrs)76.4%127
2018 (29 yrs)66.4%137
2017 (28 yrs)72.1%215
2016 (27 yrs)67.9%246
2015 (26 yrs)62.1%285
2014 (25 yrs)54.6%326
2013 (24 yrs)53.2%404
2012 (23 yrs)45.9%479
2011 (22 yrs)47.2%595
2010 (21 yrs)50.2%783
2009 (20 yrs)47.5%1,079

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate
47.5%
Age (yrs) 20Tests 1,079Avg Mileage 55,629Top Failure Suspension — 34.1%
2010High Fail Rate
50.2%
Age (yrs) 21Tests 783Avg Mileage 55,527Top Failure Suspension — 32.2%
2011High Fail Rate
47.2%
Age (yrs) 22Tests 595Avg Mileage 54,320Top Failure Suspension — 32.1%
2012High Fail Rate
45.9%
Age (yrs) 23Tests 479Avg Mileage 56,148Top Failure Suspension — 35.5%
2013High Fail Rate
53.2%
Age (yrs) 24Tests 404Avg Mileage 55,371Top Failure Suspension — 73.5%
2014High Fail Rate
54.6%
Age (yrs) 25Tests 326Avg Mileage 52,553Top Failure Suspension — 88.3%
2015High Fail Rate
62.1%
Age (yrs) 26Tests 285Avg Mileage 51,882Top Failure Suspension — 60.7%
2016
67.9%
Age (yrs) 27Tests 246Avg Mileage 54,480Top Failure Suspension — 53.7%
2017
72.1%
Age (yrs) 28Tests 215Avg Mileage 53,744Top Failure Suspension — 44.2%
2018
66.4%
Age (yrs) 29Tests 137Avg Mileage 58,538Top Failure Suspension — 51.1%
2019
76.4%
Age (yrs) 30Tests 127Avg Mileage 53,985Top Failure Suspension — 33.1%
2020
72.0%
Age (yrs) 31Tests 107Avg Mileage 52,083Top Failure Brakes — 25.2%
2021
75.2%
Age (yrs) 32Tests 137Avg Mileage 53,344Top Failure Brakes — 33.6%
2022
78.0%
Age (yrs) 33Tests 127Avg Mileage 57,996Top Failure Brakes — 19.7%
2023
80.9%
Age (yrs) 34Tests 131Avg Mileage 55,330Top Failure Suspension — 19.1%
2024
81.1%
Age (yrs) 35Tests 391Avg Mileage 59,331Top Failure Brakes — 17.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1989 Vauxhall Nova, with age trends.

Suspension
39.0%
↓ Decreases with age
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment
30.8%
↑ Increases with age
Brakes
30.4%
↓ Decreases with age
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
18.8%
↓ Decreases with age
Tyres
15.1%
↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

CategoryAt YoungestAt OldestChangeTrend
Suspension34.1% (20 yrs)13.0% (35 yrs)
-21.1%
🟢 ↓
Brakes26.4% (20 yrs)17.1% (35 yrs)
-9.3%
🟢 ↓

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 1989 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 5,569 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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