2019 Vauxhall Corsa — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 196,915 MOT tests analysed for the 2019 Vauxhall Corsa, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 88.3% was below the average for superminis of a similar age (90.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 25.4% in the 150k+ group versus 9.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 7.1% | 14,079 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 8,444 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.5% | 6,917 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.7% | 5,386 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.5% | 4,921 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 1,119 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 14,106 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 5,139 |
| 3 | Washers | 4,356 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 3,416 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,855 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 2,609 |
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 | 22.6% | 44,511 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.3% | 24,220 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.3% | 10,502 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.2% | 10,208 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 5,471 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 1,254 |
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 | 116,791 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 69,078 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 9,640 | 17.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,135 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 193 | 20.7% |
| 150k+ | 71 | 25.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 196,688 | 11.7% |
| Diesel | 223 | 10.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,199 | 5.0% |
| 2022 | 48,086 | 8.6% |
| 2023 | 49,667 | 12.7% |
| 2024 | 47,871 | 12.2% |
| 2025 | 49,092 | 13.7% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Corsa
Before buying a 2019 Vauxhall Corsa, 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.5% 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 2019 Vauxhall Corsas pass their MOT?
88.3% of the 196,915 2019 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Vauxhall Corsa?
Visibility, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.3%).
Does the 2019 Corsa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 0-30k band to 25.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 196,915 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.