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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2017 Vauxhall Viva MOT fail rate and common faults

How Vauxhall Viva cars first used in 2017 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 39,078 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 8 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 8 (n=9,719)19.1%
All cars at 8 years (n=10,440,457)23.8%
Difference−4.6 pts
MOT tests of 2017 cars, 2022 to 202539,078

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 8 years old, Vauxhall Viva cars first used in 2017 failed 19.1% of MOTs (9,719 tests), 4.6 points below the 23.8% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 5 to 8 years old, the fail rate moved from 13.8% to 19.1%.
  • Vauxhall Viva cars first used a year earlier, in 2016, failed 19.7% at the same age of 8 years (13,916 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Vauxhall Viva at 8 years, is tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative, at 3.4 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 0.8).

MOT fail rate by test year

Vauxhall Viva cars first used in 2017: 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
20225 years13.8%9,80615.3%−1.5 pts
20236 years14.1%9,79217.8%−3.7 pts
20247 years16.1%9,76120.6%−4.6 pts
20258 years19.1%9,71923.8%−4.6 pts

Most common faults at 8 years

These figures cover all Vauxhall Viva MOTs at 8 years: cars first used 2015 to 2017, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=28,827). 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
Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative3.40.8
Wipers not clearing screen Wear2.81.7
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear1.62.3
Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.40.3
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear1.21.1
Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear1.12.0
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear1.11.3
Engine warning lamp at the petrol emissions check: not working or showing a fault1.10.7
Exhaust system: system insecure1.10.2
Side/position light not working Wear0.91.2

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=28,827). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear14.88.6
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear11.215.7
Exhaust system: mounting defective7.20.5
Brake pads wearing thin Wear5.58.6
Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement4.44.0
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive3.21.8
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened2.68.6
Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre2.21.9
Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases2.00.8
Wipers: blade defective Wear1.71.0

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=28,827). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 8 years

These figures cover all Vauxhall Viva MOTs at 8 years: cars first used 2015 to 2017, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=28,827). 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%19.3%28,82722.8%37,997 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 8 years

These figures cover all Vauxhall Viva MOTs at 8 years: cars first used 2015 to 2017, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=28,827). At 8 years, Vauxhall Viva cars at 60,000 to 90,000 miles failed more often (30.9%, n=4,206) than those at under 30,000 miles (10.9%, n=9,689). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Under 30,000 miles10.9%9,68913.4%
30,000 to 60,000 miles20.6%13,98221.0%
60,000 to 90,000 miles30.9%4,20626.6%

Car tax rules for a 2017 car

  • Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
  • Cars first registered from 1 April 2017 pay a first-year rate set by CO2 emissions, then the standard rate each year. A petrol, diesel or hybrid car with a list price over £40,000 also pays the expensive car supplement for five years, from the second tax payment.
  • A car first used in 2017 can fall under either rule, so the registration date on the logbook decides.

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

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
  • 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 Viva

Other Vauxhall models first used in 2017

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Vauxhall Corsa (2017)8 years in 202531.5%52,14523.8%
Vauxhall Astra (2017)8 years in 202522.3%45,86123.8%
Vauxhall Mokka (2017)8 years in 202532.9%36,88323.8%
Vauxhall Insignia (2017)8 years in 202524.4%15,30123.8%
Vauxhall Zafira (2017)8 years in 202526.1%11,93023.8%
Vauxhall Adam (2017)8 years in 202533.2%7,56223.8%
Vauxhall Meriva (2017)8 years in 202526.4%4,45723.8%
Vauxhall Crossland (2017)8 years in 202528.3%2,54723.8%

More on the Vauxhall Viva

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 2017 Vauxhall Viva 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.