Vauxhall Senator Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Vauxhall Senator car check
Is the Vauxhall Senator reliable? We analysed 11,018 real MOT tests across 2,349 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Vauxhall Senator? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Vauxhall Senator is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, brake pipe excessively corroded and seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Senator.
Vauxhall Senator Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Vauxhall Senator. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Vauxhall Senator MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Vauxhall Senator to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Vauxhall Senator Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Vauxhall Senator fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Vauxhall Senator Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Vauxhall Senator owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Vauxhall Senator MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Vauxhall Senator year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 54 | 64.8% | 123,916 | 136,356 | 170,230 |
| 1994 | 323 | 69.0% | 105,564 | 143,700 | 170,527 |
| 1993 | 3,001 | 68.4% | 99,838 | 129,158 | 155,820 |
| 1992 | 1,849 | 67.9% | 93,347 | 122,163 | 151,148 |
| 1991 | 1,650 | 67.8% | 82,831 | 112,887 | 143,138 |
| 1990 | 1,461 | 65.5% | 80,826 | 108,926 | 138,970 |
| 1989 | 1,168 | 67.5% | 79,082 | 102,834 | 140,176 |
| 1988 | 848 | 67.7% | 80,584 | 110,771 | 141,720 |
| 1987 | 116 | 73.3% | 70,510 | 86,964 | 115,282 |
| 1986 | 240 | 70.8% | 45,310 | 66,482 | 88,492 |
| 1985 | 251 | 75.3% | 39,536 | 66,956 | 110,732 |
How Long Does a Vauxhall Senator Last?
Based on 2,349 Vauxhall Senator vehicles on UK roads.
Vauxhall Senator Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Vauxhall Senator 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 Senator
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
75.3% MOT pass rate from 251 tests
64.8% MOT pass rate from 54 tests
The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Senator is 1985, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 75.3% across 251 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Vauxhall Senator Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vauxhall Senator THIS CAR | 68.1% | 11,018 | 116,320 mi | 41 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 |
| Bedford Midi | 66.7% | 5,313 | 69,482 mi | 47 yrs |
Compared to the Vauxhall Corsa (69.7% pass rate) and the Vauxhall Astra (71.9% pass rate), the Vauxhall Senator trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Vauxhall Senator 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 SenatorShould you buy a used Vauxhall Senator?
The Vauxhall Senator has an overall MOT pass rate of 68.1% across 11,018 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Vauxhall Senator are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (1,060 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (695), and seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (660). 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 Senator owner drives around 2,043 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 Senator models stay on UK roads for around 41 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.