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Vauxhall Agila Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Vauxhall Agila car check

Is the Vauxhall Agila reliable? We analysed 1,052,565 real MOT tests across 66,496 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,052,565 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
76.4%
Typical Mileage
46,354mi
Annual Mileage
3,897mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
26yrs

The Vauxhall Agila is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pipe excessively corroded and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Agila.

Vauxhall Agila Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Vauxhall Agila. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Vauxhall Agila MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Vauxhall Agila to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

86.7%
2015
84.2%
2014
82.8%
2013
80.7%
2012
78.2%
2011
77.2%
2010
75.5%
2009
75.1%
2008
77.8%
2007
77.4%
2006
76.1%
2005
75.8%
2004
75.6%
2003
74.2%
2002
73.2%
2001
71.7%
2000

Vauxhall Agila Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Vauxhall Agila fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 25,050
Brake pipe excessively corroded 16,022
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 14,046
coil spring broken 8,358
position lamp(s) not working 7,416
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 7,375

Vauxhall Agila Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Vauxhall Agila models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 8,027

Vauxhall Agila Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Vauxhall Agila owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,078 mi/yr
Typical
3,897 mi/yr
Average
4,895 mi/yr
Heavy usage
6,507 mi/yr

Vauxhall Agila MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Vauxhall Agila year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2015 2,109 86.7% 17,364 29,411 45,596
2014 39,364 84.2% 18,730 31,222 48,664
2013 44,447 82.8% 20,635 34,438 53,762
2012 58,110 80.7% 22,570 37,676 58,258
2011 71,642 78.2% 24,274 40,628 62,914
2010 72,033 77.2% 23,578 40,158 61,864
2009 121,224 75.5% 25,908 43,727 66,356
2008 74,113 75.1% 26,849 44,644 67,595
2007 34,239 77.8% 27,455 45,588 67,854
2006 46,750 77.4% 27,622 45,912 69,352
2005 62,300 76.1% 28,300 46,307 68,812
2004 81,030 75.8% 29,174 47,957 70,428
2003 106,667 75.6% 31,545 50,843 73,930
2002 78,464 74.2% 35,098 53,926 76,553
2001 101,647 73.2% 39,049 57,010 78,074
2000 56,490 71.7% 41,724 59,677 80,412

How Long Does a Vauxhall Agila Last?

Based on 66,496 Vauxhall Agila vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.1 years
Median
14.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
26 years

Vauxhall Agila Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Vauxhall Agila MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
46,354 mi
75th Percentile
69,087 mi
95th Percentile
106,105 mi
Max Recorded
993,372 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Vauxhall Agila

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2015

86.7% MOT pass rate from 2,109 tests

Year to avoid
2000

71.7% MOT pass rate from 56,490 tests

The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Agila is 2015, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.7% across 2,109 tests. The 2000 model year has the lowest pass rate at 71.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Vauxhall Agila Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Vauxhall Agila THIS CAR 76.4% 1,052,565 46,354 mi 26 yrs
Vauxhall Corsa 69.7% 26,893,546 58,908 mi 33 yrs
Vauxhall Astra 71.9% 25,288,868 76,280 mi 34 yrs
Vauxhall Zafira 71.9% 8,488,627 75,062 mi 27 yrs
Suzuki Wagon-r+ 71.2% 607,585 53,600 mi 28 yrs

Compared to the Vauxhall Corsa (69.7% pass rate) and the Vauxhall Astra (71.9% pass rate), the Vauxhall Agila outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Vauxhall Agila?

The Vauxhall Agila has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.4% across 1,052,565 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Vauxhall Agila are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (25,050 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (16,022), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (14,046). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Vauxhall Agila with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Vauxhall Agila owner drives around 3,897 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Vauxhall Agila models stay on UK roads for around 26 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Vauxhall Agila — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Vauxhall Agila reliable?
Based on 1,052,565 MOT tests, the Vauxhall Agila has a 76.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Vauxhall Agila?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pipe excessively corroded, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Vauxhall Agila do per year?
The typical Vauxhall Agila does around 3,897 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Vauxhall Agila last?
Most Vauxhall Agila models stay on UK roads for around 26 years based on our analysis of 66,496 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Vauxhall Agila?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Vauxhall Agila?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Vauxhall Agila is 2015 with a 86.7% pass rate across 2,109 tests.