CarVerify

Vauxhall Monaro Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Vauxhall Monaro car check

Is the Vauxhall Monaro reliable? We analysed 12,565 real MOT tests across 785 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Vauxhall Monaro? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 12,565 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.7%
Typical Mileage
51,948mi
Annual Mileage
2,610mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
22yrs

The Vauxhall Monaro is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include track rod end ball joint has excessive play, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Monaro.

Vauxhall Monaro Number Plates

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

Vauxhall Monaro MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

80.9%
2007
82%
2006
81.6%
2005
78.5%
2004

Vauxhall Monaro Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 332
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 311
Brake pipe excessively corroded 142
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 111
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 107
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 102
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 102
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 91
parking brake recording little or no effort 79
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 75

Vauxhall Monaro Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
1,038 mi/yr
Typical
2,610 mi/yr
Average
3,797 mi/yr
Heavy usage
5,163 mi/yr

Vauxhall Monaro MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2007 1,306 80.9% 26,319 42,454 63,751
2006 3,723 82.0% 28,867 46,785 70,067
2005 4,093 81.6% 32,993 52,800 73,772
2004 3,253 78.5% 40,330 59,119 82,177

How Long Does a Vauxhall Monaro Last?

Based on 785 Vauxhall Monaro vehicles on UK roads.

Average
16.2 years
Median
18.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
22 years

Vauxhall Monaro Mileage Distribution

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

Median
51,948 mi
75th Percentile
74,590 mi
95th Percentile
116,646 mi
Max Recorded
659,206 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Vauxhall Monaro

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

Best year
2006

82.0% MOT pass rate from 3,723 tests

Year to avoid
2004

78.5% MOT pass rate from 3,253 tests

The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Monaro is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 82.0% across 3,723 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 78.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Vauxhall Monaro Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Vauxhall Monaro THIS CAR 80.7% 12,565 51,948 mi 22 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
Austin Healey Sprite 81% 10,514 28,264 mi 68 yrs

Compared to the Vauxhall Corsa (69.7% pass rate) and the Vauxhall Astra (71.9% pass rate), the Vauxhall Monaro outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Vauxhall Monaro 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 Monaro

Should you buy a used Vauxhall Monaro?

The Vauxhall Monaro has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.7% across 12,565 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Vauxhall Monaro are track rod end ball joint has excessive play (332 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (311), and brake pipe excessively corroded (142). 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 Monaro owner drives around 2,610 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 Monaro models stay on UK roads for around 22 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 Monaro — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Vauxhall Monaro reliable?
Based on 12,565 MOT tests, the Vauxhall Monaro has a 80.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Vauxhall Monaro?
The most common MOT failures are track rod end ball joint has excessive play, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and brake pipe excessively corroded. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Vauxhall Monaro do per year?
The typical Vauxhall Monaro does around 2,610 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Vauxhall Monaro last?
Most Vauxhall Monaro models stay on UK roads for around 22 years based on our analysis of 785 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Vauxhall Monaro?
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 Monaro?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Vauxhall Monaro is 2006 with a 82.0% pass rate across 3,723 tests.