2020 Vauxhall Combo Energy Turbo D S/S — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,004 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Vauxhall Combo Energy Turbo D S/S, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 86.8% was below the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 21.7% in the 90-120k group versus 9.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 6.8% | 272 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.2% | 208 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.0% | 200 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.1% | 125 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 47 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 44 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 259 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 126 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 123 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 109 |
| 5 | Washers | 61 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 56 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.2% | 888 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.9% | 595 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.8% | 311 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 140 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 111 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.8% | 72 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,935 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,687 | 15.5% |
| 60-90k | 326 | 19.9% |
| 90-120k | 46 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 111 | 9.9% |
| 2023 | 1,344 | 12.8% |
| 2024 | 1,265 | 13.0% |
| 2025 | 1,282 | 14.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Combo Energy Turbo D S/S
Before buying a 2020 Vauxhall Combo Energy Turbo D S/S, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 6.8% of tests for this year.
- Visibility (6.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (5.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2020 Vauxhall Combo Energy Turbo D S/Ss pass their MOT?
86.8% of the 4,004 2020 Vauxhall Combo Energy Turbo D S/S MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Vauxhall Combo Energy Turbo D S/S?
Visibility, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.2%).
Does the 2020 Combo Energy Turbo D S/S get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 21.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,004 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.