Common problems by part
Vauxhall Agila exhaust, emissions and leaks problems
DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 18,365 MOT tests · Updated
At 13 years, 2.2 in 100 MOT tests of the Vauxhall Agila failed on exhaust, emissions and leaks, against 4.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 18,365 MOT tests) [1].
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- Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: fails less often than all class 4 vehicles the same age (0.5–0.6×) (all test years), 407 MOT tests with a fail
- By age: seen at 16 ages from 8 to 23 years, 144,956 MOT tests
- MOT tests at 13 years: 18,365 for the Vauxhall Agila
Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.
What the MOT tests show
What we know
2.2 fails per 100 MOT tests at 13 years, against 4.3 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 13 (all test years). The Vauxhall Agila fails less often here.
Why it matters
An exhaust, emissions and leaks fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.
What to check
Start the car from cold and look for smoke at the exhaust, listen for blowing joints, and look under the engine and gearbox for fresh oil or fluid drips.
Vauxhall Agila exhaust, emissions and leaks fails by age
| Age | MOT tests | Fails per 100 | All class 4 vehicles the same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 3,784 | 0.7 | 2.1 |
| 9 | 7,329 | 0.9 | 2.4 |
| 10 | 11,387 | 1.1 | 2.8 |
| 11 | 15,492 | 1.2 | 3.2 |
| 12 | 16,023 | 1.6 | 3.7 |
| 13 | 18,365 | 2.2 | 4.3 |
| 14 | 17,263 | 2.8 | 5.1 |
| 15 | 13,764 | 3.4 | 5.7 |
| 16 | 10,826 | 3.7 | 6.2 |
| 17 | 6,728 | 4.4 | 6.5 |
| 18 | 5,141 | 4.4 | 6.8 |
| 19* | 5,486 | 3.8 | 7.0 |
| 20* | 4,814 | 4.3 | 7.0 |
| 21* | 4,071 | 3.9 | 7.1 |
| 22* | 2,948 | 4.6 | 7.0 |
| 23* | 1,535 | 4.5 | 6.9 |
All first-use years of the Vauxhall Agila pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.
What fails in the exhaust, emissions and leaks at 13 years
Advisories (not fails)
- Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive: 2.2 advisories per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 7.2. Oil leak, but not excessive MOT advisory
- Transmission oil leaks: leak, but not excessive: 2.0 advisories per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.9. Transmission oil leak, but not excessive MOT advisory
Buying a Vauxhall Agila? Check that exact car before the viewing.
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- Model risks for this year and fuel
- What similar cars did at their next MOT
- Repairs ahead
- Viewing checklist
By engine and fuel
- 1.2 petrol: 1.7 per 100 at 13 years, fails less often than petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (0.3–0.4×) (all test years; 13,677 MOT tests)
How to check on a test drive
Start the car from cold and look for smoke at the exhaust, listen for blowing joints, and look under the engine and gearbox for fresh oil or fluid drips.
The most common advisory here in MOT records: Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive.
Check one Vauxhall Agila, not the average
The figures here describe Vauxhall Agila cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.
- Check a Vauxhall Agila's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
- MOT advisory checker Paste an advisory or defect to read DVSA's wording, its grade and what tends to happen at the next MOT.
Other Vauxhall Agila problems
Exhaust, emissions and leaks on rival models
- Fiat 500 exhaust, emissions and leaks problems: 4.6 per 100 MOT tests at 13 years, against 2.2 for the Vauxhall Agila (94,865 MOT tests)
- Hyundai i10 exhaust, emissions and leaks problems: 2.6 per 100 MOT tests at 13 years, against 2.2 for the Vauxhall Agila (77,568 MOT tests)
- Ford Ka exhaust, emissions and leaks problems: 4.1 per 100 MOT tests at 13 years, against 2.2 for the Vauxhall Agila (70,543 MOT tests)
Questions people ask
Does the Vauxhall Agila have more exhaust, emissions and leaks problems than other cars?
0.5 to 0.6 times the exhaust, emissions and leaks fail rate of all class 4 vehicles the same age at 13 years (all test years), from 18,365 MOT tests. The interval is clear of 0.8 in the same direction at 9 of the 16 ages seen (ages up to 18 with at least 100 MOT tests with a fail).
How common are Vauxhall Agila exhaust, emissions and leaks problems?
2.2 in 100 MOT tests at 13 years failed on exhaust, emissions and leaks, against 4.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 18,365 MOT tests).
Sources
- Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 144,956 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare