CarVerify

Vauxhall Monterey Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Vauxhall Monterey car check

Is the Vauxhall Monterey reliable? We analysed 37,821 real MOT tests across 4,011 vehicles to find out.

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

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 37,821 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
69.0%
Typical Mileage
121,613mi
Annual Mileage
5,238mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
32yrs

The Vauxhall Monterey is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, constant velocity joint gaiter split and exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Monterey.

Vauxhall Monterey Number Plates

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

Vauxhall Monterey MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

69.4%
1999
72.1%
1998
70.3%
1997
68.2%
1996
68.1%
1995
66.7%
1994

Vauxhall Monterey Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Brake pipe excessively corroded 3,634
constant velocity joint gaiter split 1,471
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 1,397
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 1,333
position lamp(s) not working 1,273
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 1,049
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 1,042
Stop lamp not working 1,041
wheel bearing has excessive play 952
parking brake recording little or no effort 890

Vauxhall Monterey Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
2,889 mi/yr
Typical
5,238 mi/yr
Average
6,150 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,222 mi/yr

Vauxhall Monterey MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1999 1,675 69.4% 73,052 92,518 119,935
1998 6,408 72.1% 89,485 114,946 143,926
1997 4,893 70.3% 96,503 120,660 148,832
1996 9,919 68.2% 97,832 121,170 147,234
1995 9,928 68.1% 102,282 125,469 151,055
1994 4,917 66.7% 109,986 131,692 155,017

How Long Does a Vauxhall Monterey Last?

Based on 4,011 Vauxhall Monterey vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.6 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
32 years

Vauxhall Monterey Mileage Distribution

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

Median
121,613 mi
75th Percentile
148,302 mi
95th Percentile
196,817 mi
Max Recorded
983,310 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Vauxhall Monterey

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

Best year
1998

72.1% MOT pass rate from 6,408 tests

Year to avoid
1994

66.7% MOT pass rate from 4,917 tests

The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Monterey is 1998, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 72.1% across 6,408 tests. The 1994 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Vauxhall Monterey Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Vauxhall Monterey THIS CAR 69.0% 37,821 121,613 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
Ford Transit Custom 340LEADER Eblue 80.3% 13,088 63,338 mi — yrs

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

Found a Vauxhall Monterey 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 Monterey

Should you buy a used Vauxhall Monterey?

The Vauxhall Monterey has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.0% across 37,821 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Vauxhall Monterey are brake pipe excessively corroded (3,634 recorded failures), constant velocity joint gaiter split (1,471), and exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (1,397). 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 Monterey owner drives around 5,238 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 Monterey 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 Monterey — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Vauxhall Monterey reliable?
Based on 37,821 MOT tests, the Vauxhall Monterey has a 69.0% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Vauxhall Monterey?
The most common MOT failures are brake pipe excessively corroded, constant velocity joint gaiter split, and exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Vauxhall Monterey do per year?
The typical Vauxhall Monterey does around 5,238 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Vauxhall Monterey last?
Most Vauxhall Monterey models stay on UK roads for around 32 years based on our analysis of 4,011 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Vauxhall Monterey?
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 Monterey?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Vauxhall Monterey is 1998 with a 72.1% pass rate across 6,408 tests.