Vauxhall Meriva Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Vauxhall Meriva car check
Is the Vauxhall Meriva reliable? We analysed 2,820,552 real MOT tests across 186,055 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Vauxhall Meriva? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Vauxhall Meriva is about 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 track rod end ball joint has excessive play. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Meriva.
Vauxhall Meriva Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Vauxhall Meriva. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Vauxhall Meriva MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Vauxhall Meriva to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Vauxhall Meriva Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Vauxhall Meriva fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Vauxhall Meriva Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Vauxhall Meriva owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Vauxhall Meriva MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Vauxhall Meriva year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 185 | 84.9% | 18,469 | 29,114 | 42,677 |
| 2017 | 34,429 | 84.9% | 19,215 | 30,448 | 45,654 |
| 2016 | 56,716 | 83.9% | 22,365 | 34,708 | 51,111 |
| 2015 | 83,772 | 83.0% | 24,846 | 38,832 | 56,876 |
| 2014 | 88,029 | 82.7% | 25,854 | 41,003 | 60,620 |
| 2013 | 105,767 | 80.3% | 29,759 | 46,532 | 66,984 |
| 2012 | 139,835 | 80.3% | 33,007 | 51,725 | 73,362 |
| 2011 | 273,513 | 79.4% | 38,029 | 58,717 | 82,104 |
| 2010 | 232,417 | 74.3% | 37,388 | 57,136 | 79,701 |
| 2009 | 161,419 | 70.9% | 34,863 | 54,713 | 77,509 |
| 2008 | 211,882 | 70.9% | 38,081 | 58,938 | 81,880 |
| 2007 | 251,180 | 68.8% | 37,151 | 58,106 | 81,542 |
| 2006 | 301,447 | 67.8% | 38,240 | 59,606 | 83,932 |
| 2005 | 328,279 | 66.9% | 39,915 | 61,168 | 85,024 |
| 2004 | 412,545 | 66.9% | 41,582 | 62,199 | 85,491 |
| 2003 | 134,953 | 69.4% | 42,201 | 62,984 | 85,386 |
How Long Does a Vauxhall Meriva Last?
Based on 186,055 Vauxhall Meriva vehicles on UK roads.
Vauxhall Meriva Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Vauxhall Meriva 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 Meriva
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
84.9% MOT pass rate from 34,429 tests
66.9% MOT pass rate from 412,545 tests
The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Meriva is 2017, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.9% across 34,429 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Vauxhall Meriva Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vauxhall Meriva THIS CAR | 72.3% | 2,820,552 | 56,327 mi | 23 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 X3 | 81.7% | 1,227,551 | 66,390 mi | 22 yrs |
Compared to the Vauxhall Corsa (69.7% pass rate) and the Vauxhall Astra (71.9% pass rate), the Vauxhall Meriva outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Vauxhall Meriva 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 MerivaShould you buy a used Vauxhall Meriva?
The Vauxhall Meriva has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.3% across 2,820,552 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Vauxhall Meriva are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (59,414 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (57,354), and track rod end ball joint has excessive play (45,385). 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 Meriva owner drives around 5,593 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 Meriva models stay on UK roads for around 23 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.