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Vauxhall Combo Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Vauxhall Combo car check

Is the Vauxhall Combo reliable? We analysed 3,223,564 real MOT tests across 261,854 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,223,564 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
67.8%
Typical Mileage
89,424mi
Annual Mileage
7,064mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
32yrs

The Vauxhall Combo is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, track rod end ball joint has excessive play and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Combo.

Vauxhall Combo Number Plates

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

Vauxhall Combo MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

77%
2022
79.1%
2021
77.5%
2020
78%
2019
75.8%
2018
74.3%
2017
73%
2016
73%
2015
72.1%
2014
70.8%
2013
69.3%
2012
72.8%
2011
72.4%
2010
70.4%
2009
69.7%
2008
68.2%
2007
66.7%
2006
66.1%
2005
64.2%
2004
63.8%
2003

Vauxhall Combo Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 161,120
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 88,653
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 85,078
coil spring broken 76,968
Registration plate lamp not working 73,243
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 62,333
position lamp(s) not working 61,536
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 55,005
Brake pipe excessively corroded 50,218
Stop lamp not working 46,918

Vauxhall Combo Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
4,092 mi/yr
Typical
7,064 mi/yr
Average
8,742 mi/yr
Heavy usage
11,342 mi/yr

Vauxhall Combo MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2022 74 77.0% 20,608 33,758 45,513
2021 2,689 79.1% 30,222 47,650 67,183
2020 33,905 77.5% 32,674 48,958 67,208
2019 87,128 78.0% 31,146 48,005 68,608
2018 20,916 75.8% 33,881 53,388 77,836
2017 33,294 74.3% 44,179 66,023 91,325
2016 53,233 73.0% 49,180 73,309 100,974
2015 64,236 73.0% 55,356 79,434 106,561
2014 70,388 72.1% 55,079 80,114 108,038
2013 56,265 70.8% 57,370 84,138 112,899
2012 60,745 69.3% 58,614 86,024 116,226
2011 155,789 72.8% 44,881 77,110 115,745
2010 161,962 72.4% 43,949 74,357 113,916
2009 127,467 70.4% 54,675 85,056 119,563
2008 237,355 69.7% 60,000 89,762 123,081
2007 248,478 68.2% 62,059 91,872 124,609
2006 264,803 66.7% 59,881 88,914 120,524
2005 309,342 66.1% 58,838 85,493 115,993
2004 295,016 64.2% 65,369 95,304 129,105
2003 338,146 63.8% 65,444 94,659 127,506

How Long Does a Vauxhall Combo Last?

Based on 261,854 Vauxhall Combo vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.4 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
32 years

Vauxhall Combo Mileage Distribution

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

Median
89,424 mi
75th Percentile
121,935 mi
95th Percentile
174,067 mi
Max Recorded
1,242,667 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Vauxhall Combo

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

Best year
2021

79.1% MOT pass rate from 2,689 tests

Year to avoid
1993

60.5% MOT pass rate from 2,508 tests

The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Combo is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.1% across 2,689 tests. The 1993 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Vauxhall Combo Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Vauxhall Combo THIS CAR 67.8% 3,223,564 89,424 mi 32 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
Toyota Prius 81.8% 1,959,742 94,619 mi 22 yrs

Compared to the Vauxhall Corsa (69.7% pass rate) and the Vauxhall Astra (71.9% pass rate), the Vauxhall Combo trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Vauxhall Combo?

The Vauxhall Combo has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.8% across 3,223,564 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Vauxhall Combo are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (161,120 recorded failures), track rod end ball joint has excessive play (88,653), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (85,078). 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 Combo owner drives around 7,064 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 Combo models stay on UK roads for around 32 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 Combo — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Vauxhall Combo reliable?
Based on 3,223,564 MOT tests, the Vauxhall Combo has a 67.8% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Vauxhall Combo?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, track rod end ball joint has excessive play, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Vauxhall Combo do per year?
The typical Vauxhall Combo does around 7,064 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Vauxhall Combo last?
Most Vauxhall Combo models stay on UK roads for around 32 years based on our analysis of 261,854 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Vauxhall Combo?
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 Combo?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Vauxhall Combo is 2021 with a 79.1% pass rate across 2,689 tests.