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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2000 Vauxhall Corsa MOT fail rate and common faults

How Vauxhall Corsa cars first used in 2000 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 6,425 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 25 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 25 (n=1,027)40.7%
All cars at 25 years (n=313,355)36.3%
Difference+4.4 pts
MOT tests of 2000 cars, 2022 to 20256,425

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 25 years old, Vauxhall Corsa cars first used in 2000 failed 40.7% of MOTs (1,027 tests), 4.4 points above the 36.3% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 22 to 25 years old, the fail rate moved from 46.0% to 40.7%.
  • Vauxhall Corsa cars first used a year earlier, in 1999, failed 39.2% at the same age of 25 years (1,009 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Vauxhall Corsa at 25 years, is component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength, at 6.5 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 4.2).

MOT fail rate by test year

Vauxhall Corsa cars first used in 2000: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
202222 years46.0%2,26441.0%+5.0 pts
202323 years44.5%1,75239.6%+4.9 pts
202424 years42.2%1,38237.8%+4.4 pts
202525 years40.7%1,02736.3%+4.4 pts

Most common faults at 25 years

These figures cover all Vauxhall Corsa MOTs at 25 years: cars first used 1997 to 2000, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=3,867). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength6.54.2
Side/position light not working Wear4.43.4
Wipers not clearing screen Wear4.33.1
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps Wear3.51.1
Brake light not working Wear3.52.6
Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases3.52.1
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear3.11.8
Coil spring broken2.91.2
Driveshaft CV boot split2.72.2
Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits2.52.2

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=3,867). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive16.814.9
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear14.79.1
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear11.910.1
Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases10.25.3
Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Wear10.25.6
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive10.14.2
Wheel bearings: has slight play8.24.3
Coil spring: corroded8.26.4
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material6.014.1
Flexible brake hoses: has slight corrosion to ferrule5.22.5

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=3,867). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 25 years

These figures cover all Vauxhall Corsa MOTs at 25 years: cars first used 1997 to 2000, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=3,867). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Petrol100.0%40.1%3,78335.2%62,894 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 25 years

These figures cover all Vauxhall Corsa MOTs at 25 years: cars first used 1997 to 2000, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=3,867). At 25 years, Vauxhall Corsa cars at 60,000 to 90,000 miles failed more often (44.1%, n=1,315) than those at 30,000 to 60,000 miles (36.6%, n=1,442). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
30,000 to 60,000 miles36.6%1,44229.8%
60,000 to 90,000 miles44.1%1,31535.4%

Car tax rules for a 2000 car

  • Cars first registered before 1 March 2001 are taxed by engine size: one annual rate for engines up to 1,549cc and a higher rate above that.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Petrol cars first registered before 2001 usually do not meet Euro 4, so they usually pay the ULEZ daily charge.
  • Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2000 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Vauxhall Corsa

Other Vauxhall models first used in 2000

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Vauxhall Astra (2000)25 years in 202543.7%1,31436.3%

More on the Vauxhall Corsa

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2000 Vauxhall Corsa cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.