2025 MOT results
Vauxhall Viva common problems
The most common reason a Vauxhall Viva fails its MOT is a tyre pressure warning, on 28.6% of its 8,157 failed tests in 2025. Against other cars of the same age, 6 faults stand out, the widest gaps being: a exhaust system insecure at 4.3% of failures against 0.5% expected; a tyre pressure warning at 28.6% of failures against 4.7% expected; a split joint boot at 7.7% of failures against 1.4% expected.
- Tests in 2025 38,153 Cars aged three and over
- Failed first time 21.4% 8,157 tests
- Found a dangerous defect 4.2% Unsafe to drive away
- Ended with an advisory 44.9% A problem to watch, not a failure
What fails a Vauxhall Viva MOT
Each bar is the share of failed Vauxhall Viva tests with that defect. Where we can compare it with cars of the same registration years, the marker shows what an average car of those ages records (12 of the 12 items below).
Most common reasons for failure
A test can fail for more than one defect, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative Tyres | 28.6% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 14.8% |
| Linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Suspension | 7.7% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility | 6.0% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 6.0% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.7% |
| Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres | 5.2% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes | 4.6% |
| Exhaust system insecure Body, chassis, structure | 4.3% |
| Linkage ball joint excessively worn Suspension | 4.1% |
| Tyres: tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Tyres | 4.1% |
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 3.8% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
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Tyre pressure warning
28.6% of failures 4.7% expected 6.1 times as often
The pressure monitoring system is not working, which fails the test on cars first used from 2012.
A warning light that stays on after the tyres are set correctly usually means a sensor has died.
-
Wiper blades that do not clear the screen
14.8% of failures 6.7% expected 2.2 times as often
Wiper blades that leave the windscreen smeared or streaked across the area the driver looks through.
Look for split or hardened rubber, and lift each blade to see whether it still sits flat.
-
Split joint boot
7.7% of failures 1.4% expected 5.5 times as often
A split rubber boot on a joint or driveshaft. The joint may still be sound, but dirt and water get in once the boot is open.
Turn the wheels to full lock and look behind them for greasy splits in the rubber concertina.
-
Washers that do not work
6.0% of failures 4.6% expected somewhat more often
The washers cannot deliver enough liquid to clean the windscreen with the wipers.
Top the bottle up and check both jets reach the glass; the pump is often fine and the jet blocked.
-
Tyre worn below the legal limit
6.0% of failures 9.5% expected 1.7 times less often
A tyre worn past the 1.6mm legal minimum across the middle three quarters of the tread.
A 20p coin in the main grooves: if the outer band of the coin is visible, the tyre is close to the limit.
-
Engine management light on
5.7% of failures 5.7% expected about as expected
The engine management light is on, or has been disconnected. Either fails the test.
A cheap code reader on the diagnostic socket will say what the car has stored before you pay for a test.
Which parts of the car fail
Tyres is the area that most often fails a Vauxhall Viva, on 45.7% of failed tests. That is also where it differs most from cars of the same registration years, which record 28.5%.
Failure categories
DVSA's own sections of the test. The marker is what cars of the same registration years record.
| Defect category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Tyres | 45.7% |
| Visibility | 23.6% |
| Suspension | 21.7% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 17.2% |
| Brakes | 11.0% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 8.9% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 8.7% |
| Steering | 3.8% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What testers warn about
44.9% of Vauxhall Viva tests ended with at least one advisory: a fault the tester found that did not fail the test. On Vauxhall Vivas, these are the items to ask about on a car you are viewing, because they are what the last tester expected to go next.
Most common advisories
Share of all tests, passes included.
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 16.4% |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 11.7% |
| Exhaust system: mounting defective Body, chassis, structure | 6.7% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 5.2% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 5.0% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.7% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 2.9% |
| Exhaust system: minor leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 2.2% |
| Nail in tyre Non-component advisories | 2.0% |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes | 1.6% |
| Track rod end: ball joint has slight play Steering | 1.5% |
| Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt Non-component advisories | 1.4% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Vauxhall Viva problems: common questions
What is the most common problem with a Vauxhall Viva?
Of the faults that fail an MOT, “Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative” is the most common: it appears on 28.6% of failed Vauxhall Viva tests. Across categories, tyres is the area that most often fails one, on 45.7% of failed tests.
How often does a Vauxhall Viva fail its MOT?
21.4% of Vauxhall Viva tests in 2025 were not passed first time, from 38,153 tests of cars aged three and over. Allowing for the age and mileage of the cars tested, that gives it a UK Motoring Reliability Score of 52 out of 100, where 50 is as expected.
Does anything fail more often on a Vauxhall Viva than on other cars?
Yes. “Exhaust system insecure” appears on 4.3% of its failures against 0.5% for cars of the same age, and “Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative” appears on 28.6% of its failures against 4.7% for cars of the same age. Where an item is missing from the national figures for a year, we use the smallest share those figures show, so the comparison never overstates the difference.
Are these the same as breakdowns or known faults?
No. These are the items a tester recorded at the MOT, which covers condition and safety: lamps, brakes, tyres, suspension, corrosion and emissions. A gearbox that is unpleasant, an infotainment screen that has died, or a car that will not start on a cold morning are not part of the test, so they are not in these figures.
Where do the figures come from?
Every normal MOT test of a Vauxhall Viva aged three and over in Great Britain in 2025, from DVSA's anonymised MOT results. Retests are excluded, and the same fault on more than one wheel counts once.
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT defects and advisories | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 38,153 MOT tests | 19 September 2026 |
- Shares for defects are of failed tests; shares for advisories are of all tests. A test can carry several defects, so shares add to more than 100%.
- The expected share is what an average car of the same registration years records, weighted by where this model’s failures fall. Where an item is outside the national figures for a year, the smallest share those figures show is used in its place, which is an upper bound, so the comparison never overstates a model’s problems. No expectation is published where less than 80% of the model’s failures can be compared.
- Great Britain only: DVSA does not run MOT testing in Northern Ireland. Cars under three years old are not tested.
- The descriptions of what each part does are general and the same on every model. Every figure comes from the MOT data.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.