2020 Vauxhall Corsa E Elite — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 7,202 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Vauxhall Corsa E Elite, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, suspension and visibility. Its pass rate of 85.0% was below the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 21.5% in the 60-90k group versus 12.0% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

7,202

MOT tests analysed

15.0%

Fail rate

worse than

vs cars of similar age

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2020 Vauxhall Corsa E Elite
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	6.6%	472
2	Suspension	6.2%	449
3	Visibility	6.1%	442
4	Lighting & signalling	2.6%	190
5	Brakes	1.8%	127
6	Other defects	0.2%	15

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2020 Vauxhall Corsa E Elite
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Wipers	502
2	Linkage ball joint dust cover	322
3	Headlamp aim	247
4	Ball joint dust cover	158
5	Tread depth	141
6	Service brake performance	65

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2020 Vauxhall Corsa E Elite
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	27.3%	1,965
2	Brakes	10.5%	754
3	Other defects	4.7%	337
4	Suspension	4.1%	295
5	Visibility	3.2%	231
6	Road wheels	2.3%	163

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2020 Corsa E Elite
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	4,738	12.0%
30-60k	2,254	20.5%
60-90k	195	21.5%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2020 Corsa E Elite
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	2,206	8.3%
2024	2,464	17.4%
2025	2,506	18.7%

What to check before buying a 2020 Corsa E Elite

Before buying a 2020 Vauxhall Corsa E Elite, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.6% of tests for this year.

Tyres (6.6% 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.
Suspension (6.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Visibility (6.1% 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.

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 Corsa E Elites pass their MOT?

85.0% of the 7,202 2020 Vauxhall Corsa E Elite MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.0% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Vauxhall Corsa E Elite?

Tyres, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by suspension (6.2%).

Does the 2020 Corsa E Elite get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.0% in the 0-30k band to 21.5% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 7,202 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.