Vauxhall Corsa Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Vauxhall Corsa car check
Is the Vauxhall Corsa reliable? We analysed 26,893,546 real MOT tests across 2,075,660 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Vauxhall Corsa? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Vauxhall Corsa is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Corsa.
Vauxhall Corsa Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Vauxhall Corsa. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Vauxhall Corsa MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Vauxhall Corsa to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Vauxhall Corsa Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Vauxhall Corsa fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Vauxhall Corsa Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Vauxhall Corsa owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Vauxhall Corsa MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Vauxhall Corsa year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 185 | 87.0% | 13,653 | 20,185 | 29,972 |
| 2021 | 264 | 88.3% | 15,906 | 23,273 | 36,008 |
| 2020 | 552 | 86.4% | 17,590 | 27,954 | 39,799 |
| 2019 | 223,244 | 83.6% | 17,319 | 26,992 | 39,846 |
| 2018 | 344,066 | 82.1% | 19,785 | 30,783 | 45,723 |
| 2017 | 422,579 | 81.7% | 23,265 | 35,978 | 52,619 |
| 2016 | 698,719 | 80.2% | 26,524 | 40,392 | 58,490 |
| 2015 | 945,767 | 78.7% | 29,023 | 44,347 | 63,875 |
| 2014 | 963,816 | 74.7% | 31,815 | 48,163 | 68,450 |
| 2013 | 1,080,000 | 74.1% | 33,738 | 51,322 | 72,661 |
| 2012 | 1,219,501 | 74.4% | 35,304 | 54,196 | 76,428 |
| 2011 | 1,137,732 | 74.0% | 36,274 | 56,242 | 79,350 |
| 2010 | 1,211,315 | 72.3% | 36,284 | 57,337 | 81,297 |
| 2009 | 1,373,117 | 71.1% | 37,659 | 59,147 | 83,651 |
| 2008 | 1,648,045 | 71.1% | 39,063 | 61,061 | 85,695 |
| 2007 | 1,599,934 | 70.2% | 38,883 | 61,419 | 86,444 |
| 2006 | 1,250,064 | 67.7% | 37,724 | 58,513 | 82,176 |
| 2005 | 1,480,219 | 66.3% | 37,845 | 58,075 | 81,099 |
| 2004 | 1,695,590 | 65.9% | 38,149 | 58,393 | 81,346 |
| 2003 | 1,837,939 | 66.3% | 38,486 | 58,963 | 82,121 |
How Long Does a Vauxhall Corsa Last?
Based on 2,075,660 Vauxhall Corsa vehicles on UK roads.
Vauxhall Corsa Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Vauxhall Corsa 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 Corsa
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
88.3% MOT pass rate from 264 tests
57.9% MOT pass rate from 107 tests
The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Corsa is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.3% across 264 tests. The 1992 model year has the lowest pass rate at 57.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Vauxhall Corsa Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vauxhall Corsa THIS CAR | 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 |
| Vauxhall Vectra | 67.2% | 7,582,833 | 90,544 mi | 30 yrs |
| Honda Civic | 73.7% | 9,391,580 | 74,987 mi | 34 yrs |
Compared to the Vauxhall Astra (71.9% pass rate) and the Vauxhall Zafira (71.9% pass rate), the Vauxhall Corsa trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Vauxhall Corsa 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 CorsaShould you buy a used Vauxhall Corsa?
The Vauxhall Corsa has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.7% across 26,893,546 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Vauxhall Corsa are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (835,831 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (597,639), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (535,815). 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 Corsa owner drives around 5,229 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 Corsa 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.