Vauxhall Ampera Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Vauxhall Ampera car check
Is the Vauxhall Ampera reliable? We analysed 14,866 real MOT tests across 1,293 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Vauxhall Ampera? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Vauxhall Ampera is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Ampera.
Vauxhall Ampera Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Vauxhall Ampera. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Vauxhall Ampera MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Vauxhall Ampera to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Vauxhall Ampera Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Vauxhall Ampera models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Vauxhall Ampera Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Vauxhall Ampera owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Vauxhall Ampera MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Vauxhall Ampera year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1,005 | 82.0% | 40,335 | 63,228 | 89,889 |
| 2014 | 5,485 | 80.2% | 40,748 | 62,565 | 87,571 |
| 2013 | 2,908 | 80.4% | 46,689 | 70,917 | 100,950 |
| 2012 | 5,343 | 80.2% | 46,264 | 73,236 | 101,956 |
How Long Does a Vauxhall Ampera Last?
Based on 1,293 Vauxhall Ampera vehicles on UK roads.
Vauxhall Ampera Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Vauxhall Ampera MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Vauxhall Ampera
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
82.0% MOT pass rate from 1,005 tests
80.2% MOT pass rate from 5,343 tests
The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Ampera is 2015, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 82.0% across 1,005 tests. The 2012 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Vauxhall Ampera Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vauxhall Ampera THIS CAR | 80.3% | 14,866 | 67,849 mi | 14 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 |
| BMW M340I Xdrive Auto | 89.1% | 8,280 | 31,533 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Vauxhall Corsa (69.7% pass rate) and the Vauxhall Astra (71.9% pass rate), the Vauxhall Ampera outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Vauxhall Ampera you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Vauxhall AmperaShould you buy a used Vauxhall Ampera?
The Vauxhall Ampera has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.3% across 14,866 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
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 Ampera 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 Ampera owner drives around 6,872 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 Ampera models stay on UK roads for around 14 years. 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.