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Vauxhall Vivaro Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Vauxhall Vivaro car check

Is the Vauxhall Vivaro reliable? We analysed 3,853,716 real MOT tests across 280,649 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,853,716 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
68.6%
Typical Mileage
97,964mi
Annual Mileage
8,329mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
24yrs

The Vauxhall Vivaro is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include track rod end ball joint has excessive play, suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Vivaro.

Vauxhall Vivaro Number Plates

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

Vauxhall Vivaro MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

76.9%
2022
76.4%
2021
82.1%
2020
78%
2019
77.4%
2018
76.2%
2017
75.3%
2016
74.1%
2015
70.4%
2014
69.7%
2013
67.7%
2012
66.5%
2011
66.3%
2010
67%
2009
66.7%
2008
66.4%
2007
66.1%
2006
65.8%
2005
64.3%
2004
64.3%
2003

Vauxhall Vivaro Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 144,341
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 70,699
position lamp(s) not working 68,920
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 66,403
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 53,993
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 50,419
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 49,468

Vauxhall Vivaro Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
5,015 mi/yr
Typical
8,329 mi/yr
Average
10,072 mi/yr
Heavy usage
12,993 mi/yr

Vauxhall Vivaro MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2022 65 76.9% 39,219 48,119 64,953
2021 106 76.4% 38,563 51,406 63,040
2020 520 82.1% 41,414 61,138 86,266
2019 47,733 78.0% 41,745 62,435 88,200
2018 125,753 77.4% 43,576 64,306 90,706
2017 157,657 76.2% 48,386 72,647 102,543
2016 217,301 75.3% 47,436 72,558 104,564
2015 281,373 74.1% 56,205 82,576 114,302
2014 230,401 70.4% 60,071 88,981 123,707
2013 246,234 69.7% 65,043 96,475 133,236
2012 202,014 67.7% 69,266 102,326 139,702
2011 226,859 66.5% 72,325 106,219 143,207
2010 157,983 66.3% 72,715 107,422 144,894
2009 118,294 67.0% 70,183 106,533 144,668
2008 292,405 66.7% 75,840 110,885 147,939
2007 329,567 66.4% 70,559 105,798 142,926
2006 326,317 66.1% 70,694 106,157 143,394
2005 319,250 65.8% 72,408 107,499 144,730
2004 273,481 64.3% 75,918 110,099 146,355
2003 183,278 64.3% 79,177 113,068 148,098

How Long Does a Vauxhall Vivaro Last?

Based on 280,649 Vauxhall Vivaro vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.3 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
24 years

Vauxhall Vivaro Mileage Distribution

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

Median
97,964 mi
75th Percentile
135,900 mi
95th Percentile
194,626 mi
Max Recorded
3,131,023 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Vauxhall Vivaro

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

Best year
2020

82.1% MOT pass rate from 520 tests

Year to avoid
2002

64.1% MOT pass rate from 91,045 tests

The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Vivaro is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 82.1% across 520 tests. The 2002 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Vauxhall Vivaro Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Vauxhall Vivaro THIS CAR 68.6% 3,853,716 97,964 mi 24 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
Volkswagen Touran 74.9% 1,718,428 86,001 mi 23 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Vauxhall Vivaro?

The Vauxhall Vivaro has an overall MOT pass rate of 68.6% across 3,853,716 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Vauxhall Vivaro are track rod end ball joint has excessive play (144,341 recorded failures), suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (70,699), and position lamp(s) not working (68,920). 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 Vivaro owner drives around 8,329 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 Vivaro models stay on UK roads for around 24 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 Vivaro — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Vauxhall Vivaro reliable?
Based on 3,853,716 MOT tests, the Vauxhall Vivaro has a 68.6% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Vauxhall Vivaro?
The most common MOT failures are track rod end ball joint has excessive play, suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint, and position lamp(s) not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Vauxhall Vivaro do per year?
The typical Vauxhall Vivaro does around 8,329 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Vauxhall Vivaro last?
Most Vauxhall Vivaro models stay on UK roads for around 24 years based on our analysis of 280,649 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Vauxhall Vivaro?
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 Vivaro?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Vauxhall Vivaro is 2020 with a 82.1% pass rate across 520 tests.