2020 Vauxhall Corsa Elite — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 635 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Vauxhall Corsa Elite, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, brakes and tyres. Its pass rate of 90.1% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%).

Pass rate

635

MOT tests analysed

9.9%

Fail rate

in line with

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 Elite
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Visibility	6.5%	41
2	Brakes	3.1%	20
3	Tyres	3.0%	19
4	Suspension	1.3%	8
5	Lighting & signalling	0.8%	5
6	Emissions & environmental	0.8%	5

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 Elite
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Wipers	48
2	Brake pads	16
3	Brake discs	8
4	Tread depth	4
5	Ball joint	4
6	Washers	4

Top advisory categories

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

Most common MOT advisories — 2020 Vauxhall Corsa Elite
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	16.2%	103
2	Brakes	13.5%	86
3	Other defects	3.6%	23
4	Visibility	3.3%	21
5	Suspension	2.2%	14
6	Steering	0.8%	5

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 Elite
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	58	1.7%
30-60k	558	10.8%

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 Elite
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	206	14.1%
2024	212	6.6%
2025	217	9.2%

What to check before buying a 2020 Corsa Elite

Before buying a 2020 Vauxhall Corsa Elite, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 6.5% of tests for this year.

Visibility (6.5% 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 (3.1% 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.
Tyres (3.0% 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 Corsa Elites pass their MOT?

90.1% of the 635 2020 Vauxhall Corsa Elite MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.9% fail rate.

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

Visibility, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by brakes (3.1%).

Does the 2020 Corsa Elite get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 1.7% in the 0-30k band to 10.8% in the 30-60k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 635 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.