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Vauxhall Tigra Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Vauxhall Tigra car check

Is the Vauxhall Tigra reliable? We analysed 654,705 real MOT tests across 55,160 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 654,705 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
67.3%
Typical Mileage
63,269mi
Annual Mileage
4,652mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
31yrs

The Vauxhall Tigra is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and stop lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Tigra.

Vauxhall Tigra Number Plates

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

Vauxhall Tigra MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

75.3%
2011
74.1%
2010
72.7%
2009
71.8%
2008
70.3%
2007
69.5%
2006
68.6%
2005
69.5%
2004
60.7%
2002
64.5%
2001
65.4%
2000
65.8%
1999
64.7%
1998
63.5%
1997
62%
1996
60.1%
1995
57.1%
1994
64.8%
1971

Vauxhall Tigra Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 29,142
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 17,988
Stop lamp not working 17,550
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 17,222
position lamp(s) not working 14,989
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 14,689
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 14,670
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 12,028
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 11,223
Brake cable has wires broken and is significantly weakened 10,964

Vauxhall Tigra Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
2,625 mi/yr
Typical
4,652 mi/yr
Average
5,443 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,285 mi/yr

Vauxhall Tigra MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2011 89 75.3% 31,935 54,105 74,064
2010 232 74.1% 30,906 45,954 69,526
2009 45,274 72.7% 30,590 47,922 67,725
2008 42,967 71.8% 31,959 50,653 71,128
2007 65,407 70.3% 32,328 51,184 72,193
2006 90,472 69.5% 35,486 54,458 75,634
2005 93,669 68.6% 35,930 55,122 76,328
2004 28,907 69.5% 35,411 54,632 76,168
2002 56 60.7% 56,141 76,672 85,197
2001 1,075 64.5% 45,467 62,614 81,908
2000 54,903 65.4% 46,538 62,429 79,918
1999 48,088 65.8% 51,617 67,466 84,463
1998 54,754 64.7% 56,921 72,844 89,257
1997 51,948 63.5% 63,456 79,155 95,208
1996 37,977 62.0% 67,957 83,753 99,672
1995 35,155 60.1% 70,453 86,534 102,375
1994 3,153 57.1% 74,237 90,693 105,452
1971 105 64.8% 66,979 78,405 91,018

How Long Does a Vauxhall Tigra Last?

Based on 55,160 Vauxhall Tigra vehicles on UK roads.

Average
13.2 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
31 years

Vauxhall Tigra Mileage Distribution

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

Median
63,269 mi
75th Percentile
83,735 mi
95th Percentile
113,234 mi
Max Recorded
997,273 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Vauxhall Tigra

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

Best year
2011

75.3% MOT pass rate from 89 tests

Year to avoid
1994

57.1% MOT pass rate from 3,153 tests

The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Tigra is 2011, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 75.3% across 89 tests. The 1994 model year has the lowest pass rate at 57.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Vauxhall Tigra Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Vauxhall Tigra THIS CAR 67.3% 654,705 63,269 mi 31 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
Toyota MR2 70.3% 602,130 86,819 mi 40 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Vauxhall Tigra?

The Vauxhall Tigra has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.3% across 654,705 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Vauxhall Tigra are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (29,142 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (17,988), and stop lamp not working (17,550). 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 Tigra owner drives around 4,652 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 Tigra models stay on UK roads for around 31 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 Tigra — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Vauxhall Tigra reliable?
Based on 654,705 MOT tests, the Vauxhall Tigra has a 67.3% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Vauxhall Tigra?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, parking brake: efficiency below requirements, and stop lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Vauxhall Tigra do per year?
The typical Vauxhall Tigra does around 4,652 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Vauxhall Tigra last?
Most Vauxhall Tigra models stay on UK roads for around 31 years based on our analysis of 55,160 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Vauxhall Tigra?
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 Tigra?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Vauxhall Tigra is 2011 with a 75.3% pass rate across 89 tests.