2021 Vauxhall Corsa E — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,565 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Vauxhall Corsa E, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, tyres and suspension. Its pass rate of 86.6% was below the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 21.7% in the 60-90k group versus 11.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 7.2% | 401 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.6% | 367 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 247 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 100 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.2% | 69 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 17 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 437 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 160 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 131 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 79 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 65 |
| 6 | Washers | 62 |
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 | 25.3% | 1,408 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.8% | 490 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.3% | 297 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.9% | 215 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.5% | 194 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.0% | 57 |
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 | 4,066 | 11.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,415 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 69 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 65 | 6.2% |
| 2024 | 2,649 | 11.0% |
| 2025 | 2,850 | 15.8% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Corsa E
Before buying a 2021 Vauxhall Corsa E, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 7.2% of tests for this year.
- Visibility (7.2% 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.
- 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 (4.4% 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.
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 2021 Vauxhall Corsa Es pass their MOT?
86.6% of the 5,565 2021 Vauxhall Corsa E MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Vauxhall Corsa E?
Visibility, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by tyres (6.6%).
Does the 2021 Corsa E get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.8% in the 0-30k band to 21.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,565 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.