2007 Vauxhall Meriva — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 40,538 MOT tests analysed for the 2007 Vauxhall Meriva, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 68.7% was below the average for MPVs of a similar age (70.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 35.1% in the 150k+ group versus 24.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 7,358 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.4% | 6,261 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.2% | 4,950 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.9% | 4,011 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 2,643 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.3% | 2,576 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 4,013 |
| 2 | Joints | 2,776 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 2,750 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,585 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 2,532 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 1,902 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 46.2% | 18,713 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.0% | 14,198 |
| 3 | Tyres | 32.4% | 13,121 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.1% | 8,946 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.7% | 6,758 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 15.6% | 6,342 |
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 | 869 | 24.3% |
| 30-60k | 6,674 | 27.5% |
| 60-90k | 15,525 | 30.6% |
| 90-120k | 12,314 | 33.2% |
| 120-150k | 3,960 | 34.3% |
| 150k+ | 818 | 35.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 36,983 | 31.2% |
| Diesel | 3,555 | 32.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,489 | 31.7% |
| 2022 | 9,643 | 31.0% |
| 2023 | 8,125 | 31.7% |
| 2024 | 6,360 | 30.7% |
| 2025 | 4,921 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Meriva
Before buying a 2007 Vauxhall Meriva, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 18.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (18.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.4% 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.
- Brakes (12.2% 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.
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 2007 Vauxhall Merivas pass their MOT?
68.7% of the 40,538 2007 Vauxhall Meriva MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Vauxhall Meriva?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.1% of tests, followed by suspension (15.4%).
Does the 2007 Meriva get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.3% in the 0-30k band to 35.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 40,538 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.