Vauxhall Viva Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Vauxhall Viva car check
Is the Vauxhall Viva reliable? We analysed 305,239 real MOT tests across 39,920 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Vauxhall Viva? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Vauxhall Viva is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Viva.
Vauxhall Viva Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Vauxhall Viva. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Vauxhall Viva MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Vauxhall Viva to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Vauxhall Viva Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Vauxhall Viva models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Vauxhall Viva Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Vauxhall Viva owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Vauxhall Viva MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Vauxhall Viva year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20,220 | 88.8% | 11,644 | 19,864 | 31,515 |
| 2018 | 33,725 | 88.3% | 13,381 | 22,094 | 34,886 |
| 2017 | 73,283 | 87.5% | 15,898 | 25,928 | 40,363 |
| 2016 | 118,760 | 86.0% | 17,933 | 29,233 | 44,779 |
| 2015 | 48,974 | 85.9% | 17,783 | 29,641 | 46,046 |
| 1979 | 327 | 70.0% | 29,042 | 55,448 | 73,944 |
| 1978 | 262 | 74.8% | 34,262 | 45,619 | 76,586 |
| 1977 | 237 | 73.4% | 35,084 | 56,503 | 75,446 |
| 1976 | 270 | 76.7% | 30,487 | 49,994 | 57,299 |
| 1975 | 395 | 72.4% | 34,257 | 50,540 | 70,761 |
| 1974 | 450 | 77.3% | 31,602 | 49,170 | 67,654 |
| 1973 | 519 | 77.1% | 31,869 | 45,959 | 70,534 |
| 1972 | 1,100 | 77.0% | 24,723 | 49,318 | 74,207 |
| 1971 | 747 | 76.6% | 27,217 | 50,406 | 71,744 |
| 1970 | 642 | 80.8% | 32,255 | 51,936 | 68,945 |
| 1969 | 526 | 80.8% | 25,314 | 55,595 | 76,690 |
| 1968 | 575 | 84.2% | 21,634 | 57,428 | 78,330 |
| 1967 | 489 | 80.6% | 34,134 | 49,206 | 64,613 |
| 1966 | 595 | 82.0% | 30,430 | 48,479 | 65,133 |
| 1965 | 418 | 80.4% | 36,572 | 47,874 | 85,874 |
How Long Does a Vauxhall Viva Last?
Based on 39,920 Vauxhall Viva vehicles on UK roads.
Vauxhall Viva Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Vauxhall Viva 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 Viva
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
88.8% MOT pass rate from 20,220 tests
70.0% MOT pass rate from 327 tests
The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Viva is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.8% across 20,220 tests. The 1979 model year has the lowest pass rate at 70.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Vauxhall Viva Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vauxhall Viva THIS CAR | 86.5% | 305,239 | 27,314 mi | 11 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 |
| Mitsubishi Mirage | 85.4% | 97,130 | 31,512 mi | 13 yrs |
Compared to the Vauxhall Corsa (69.7% pass rate) and the Vauxhall Astra (71.9% pass rate), the Vauxhall Viva outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Vauxhall Viva 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 VivaShould you buy a used Vauxhall Viva?
The Vauxhall Viva has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.5% across 305,239 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Vauxhall Viva with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Vauxhall Viva owner drives around 3,975 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 Viva models stay on UK roads for around 11 years. 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.