2021 Vauxhall Corsa Elite Turbo Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,880 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Vauxhall Corsa Elite Turbo Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 90.7% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 16.1% in the 60-90k group versus 8.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 7.1% | 205 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.4% | 97 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 65 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.6% | 47 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 21 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 221 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 37 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 33 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 25 |
| 5 | Washers | 19 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 18 |
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 | 19.3% | 556 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.4% | 386 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.5% | 101 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.2% | 93 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 23 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 18 |
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 | 1,953 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 896 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 31 | 16.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 113 | 3.5% |
| 2024 | 1,409 | 9.0% |
| 2025 | 1,355 | 10.1% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Corsa Elite Turbo Auto
Before buying a 2021 Vauxhall Corsa Elite Turbo Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 7.1% of tests for this year.
- Visibility (7.1% 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.
- Tyres (3.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2021 Vauxhall Corsa Elite Turbo Autos pass their MOT?
90.7% of the 2,880 2021 Vauxhall Corsa Elite Turbo Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Vauxhall Corsa Elite Turbo Auto?
Visibility, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by tyres (3.4%).
Does the 2021 Corsa Elite Turbo Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 16.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,880 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.