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Vauxhall Vectra Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Vauxhall Vectra car check

Is the Vauxhall Vectra reliable? We analysed 7,582,833 real MOT tests across 740,847 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 7,582,833 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
67.2%
Typical Mileage
90,544mi
Annual Mileage
7,435mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
30yrs

The Vauxhall Vectra 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 registration plate lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Vectra.

Vauxhall Vectra Number Plates

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

Vauxhall Vectra MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

64.1%
2014
70.3%
2010
70%
2009
69.7%
2008
69.2%
2007
69%
2006
68%
2005
68.2%
2004
67.7%
2003
67.2%
2002
66.9%
2001
66.6%
2000
66%
1999
65.1%
1998
64%
1997
61.5%
1996
60.5%
1995
64.8%
1994
64.9%
1971

Vauxhall Vectra Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 540,198
Brake pipe excessively corroded 415,488
Registration plate lamp not working 211,691
coil spring broken 205,025
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 200,669
coil spring incomplete 184,718
Direction indicator incorrect colour 181,650
position lamp(s) not working 172,942
coil spring fractured 155,030
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 141,852

Vauxhall Vectra Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
4,691 mi/yr
Typical
7,435 mi/yr
Average
8,940 mi/yr
Heavy usage
11,083 mi/yr

Vauxhall Vectra MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2014 64 64.1% 61,391 71,363 115,542
2010 74 70.3% 72,702 88,118 112,708
2009 79,376 70.0% 51,146 80,104 113,334
2008 572,177 69.7% 55,890 83,039 114,510
2007 704,302 69.2% 57,299 84,501 115,532
2006 605,895 69.0% 57,898 85,288 115,900
2005 587,847 68.0% 58,463 85,420 116,013
2004 626,632 68.2% 58,952 85,452 115,095
2003 625,852 67.7% 58,094 83,864 112,621
2002 636,130 67.2% 59,250 82,437 108,734
2001 662,303 66.9% 64,410 86,171 111,153
2000 633,045 66.6% 71,485 93,139 117,592
1999 569,509 66.0% 77,406 98,879 123,054
1998 530,754 65.1% 80,775 102,193 126,879
1997 427,806 64.0% 85,393 106,503 131,643
1996 295,088 61.5% 88,912 109,990 134,506
1995 24,101 60.5% 90,092 109,863 133,757
1994 71 64.8% 81,941 93,414 101,388
1971 362 64.9% 88,775 101,483 123,005

How Long Does a Vauxhall Vectra Last?

Based on 740,847 Vauxhall Vectra vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.1 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
30 years

Vauxhall Vectra Mileage Distribution

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

Median
90,544 mi
75th Percentile
118,261 mi
95th Percentile
165,545 mi
Max Recorded
7,972,715 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Vauxhall Vectra

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

Best year
2010

70.3% MOT pass rate from 74 tests

Year to avoid
1995

60.5% MOT pass rate from 24,101 tests

The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Vectra is 2010, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 70.3% across 74 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Vauxhall Vectra Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Vauxhall Vectra THIS CAR 67.2% 7,582,833 90,544 mi 30 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
Honda Accord 71.2% 2,311,969 92,767 mi 33 yrs

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

Found a Vauxhall Vectra you like?

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Should you buy a used Vauxhall Vectra?

The Vauxhall Vectra has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.2% across 7,582,833 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Vauxhall Vectra are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (540,198 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (415,488), and registration plate lamp not working (211,691). 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 Vectra owner drives around 7,435 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 Vectra models stay on UK roads for around 30 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 Vectra — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Vauxhall Vectra reliable?
Based on 7,582,833 MOT tests, the Vauxhall Vectra has a 67.2% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Vauxhall Vectra?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pipe excessively corroded, and registration plate lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Vauxhall Vectra do per year?
The typical Vauxhall Vectra does around 7,435 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Vauxhall Vectra last?
Most Vauxhall Vectra models stay on UK roads for around 30 years based on our analysis of 740,847 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Vauxhall Vectra?
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 Vectra?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Vauxhall Vectra is 2010 with a 70.3% pass rate across 74 tests.