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Vauxhall Astravan Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Vauxhall Astravan car check

Is the Vauxhall Astravan reliable? We analysed 679,643 real MOT tests across 58,240 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 679,643 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
68.2%
Typical Mileage
113,288mi
Annual Mileage
7,780mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
33yrs

The Vauxhall Astravan is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Astravan.

Vauxhall Astravan Number Plates

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

Vauxhall Astravan MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

74.1%
2013
74.8%
2012
74.1%
2011
72.5%
2010
70.9%
2009
70.6%
2008
70.6%
2007
69.8%
2006
68%
2005
68.4%
2004
68.6%
2003
67.6%
2002
67.8%
2001
65.2%
2000
63.6%
1999
63.3%
1998
63.5%
1997
63.5%
1996
62.2%
1995
61%
1994

Vauxhall Astravan Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Brake pipe excessively corroded 35,295
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 34,913
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 19,092
position lamp(s) not working 17,431
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 16,678
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 15,651
coil spring broken 14,589
Registration plate lamp not working 13,000
Stop lamp not working 12,119
Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint 11,230

Vauxhall Astravan Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
4,388 mi/yr
Typical
7,780 mi/yr
Average
9,588 mi/yr
Heavy usage
12,624 mi/yr

Vauxhall Astravan MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2013 135 74.1% 69,345 103,198 131,788
2012 5,911 74.8% 74,713 105,489 140,858
2011 16,411 74.1% 75,733 109,922 147,518
2010 18,691 72.5% 76,342 110,584 146,862
2009 14,896 70.9% 72,983 107,839 143,201
2008 37,735 70.6% 78,146 112,980 147,469
2007 47,291 70.6% 77,160 110,773 144,724
2006 104,537 69.8% 77,772 110,337 145,042
2005 138,868 68.0% 76,641 108,093 142,003
2004 137,105 68.4% 76,861 107,334 140,755
2003 35,835 68.6% 76,371 108,331 142,046
2002 8,470 67.6% 85,616 116,559 151,888
2001 4,983 67.8% 94,012 122,593 154,877
2000 5,130 65.2% 105,144 131,486 161,541
1999 4,908 63.6% 105,363 132,248 160,452
1998 4,299 63.3% 95,252 118,537 144,917
1997 21,531 63.5% 101,836 125,240 151,513
1996 22,953 63.5% 103,283 127,990 153,900
1995 20,133 62.2% 107,451 132,289 158,154
1994 15,158 61.0% 110,646 136,672 165,862

How Long Does a Vauxhall Astravan Last?

Based on 58,240 Vauxhall Astravan vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.8 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
33 years

Vauxhall Astravan Mileage Distribution

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

Median
113,288 mi
75th Percentile
146,510 mi
95th Percentile
198,913 mi
Max Recorded
1,257,596 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Vauxhall Astravan

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

Best year
2012

74.8% MOT pass rate from 5,911 tests

Year to avoid
1988

55.1% MOT pass rate from 205 tests

The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Astravan is 2012, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 74.8% across 5,911 tests. The 1988 model year has the lowest pass rate at 55.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Vauxhall Astravan Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Vauxhall Astravan THIS CAR 68.2% 679,643 113,288 mi 33 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 Astravan trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Vauxhall Astravan?

The Vauxhall Astravan has an overall MOT pass rate of 68.2% across 679,643 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Vauxhall Astravan are brake pipe excessively corroded (35,295 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (34,913), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (19,092). 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.

A typical Vauxhall Astravan owner drives around 7,780 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 Astravan models stay on UK roads for around 33 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 Astravan — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Vauxhall Astravan reliable?
Based on 679,643 MOT tests, the Vauxhall Astravan has a 68.2% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Vauxhall Astravan?
The most common MOT failures are brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Vauxhall Astravan do per year?
The typical Vauxhall Astravan does around 7,780 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Vauxhall Astravan last?
Most Vauxhall Astravan models stay on UK roads for around 33 years based on our analysis of 58,240 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Vauxhall Astravan?
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 Astravan?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Vauxhall Astravan is 2012 with a 74.8% pass rate across 5,911 tests.