2020 Vauxhall Combo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 28,782 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Vauxhall Combo, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes. Its pass rate of 83.0% was below the average for vans of a similar age (85.6%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 3,037 |
| 2 | Visibility | 9.4% | 2,693 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.7% | 1,637 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.4% | 1,263 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 430 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 389 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 2,455 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,832 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,473 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 1,061 |
| 5 | Washers | 865 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 747 |
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 | 22.4% | 6,458 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.1% | 5,201 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 2,189 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.0% | 1,734 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.8% | 1,664 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 980 |
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 | 6,493 | 12.0% |
| 30-60k | 13,254 | 18.2% |
| 60-90k | 7,176 | 18.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,525 | 19.1% |
| 120-150k | 249 | 17.7% |
| 150k+ | 84 | 14.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 25,637 | 17.5% |
| Petrol | 3,145 | 12.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 401 | 12.2% |
| 2023 | 9,784 | 18.1% |
| 2024 | 9,594 | 17.8% |
| 2025 | 8,985 | 15.1% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Combo
Before buying a 2020 Vauxhall Combo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 10.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (10.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (9.4% 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.
- Brakes (5.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 Combos pass their MOT?
83.0% of the 28,782 2020 Vauxhall Combo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Vauxhall Combo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.5% of tests, followed by visibility (9.4%).
Does the 2020 Combo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.0% in the 0-30k band to 14.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,782 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.