2017 Vauxhall Meriva — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 25,604 MOT tests analysed for the 2017 Vauxhall Meriva, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 86.8% was in line with the average for MPVs of a similar age (87.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 28.8% in the 120-150k group versus 7.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.2% | 1,589 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.2% | 1,066 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 844 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.1% | 790 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 539 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.0% | 518 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,740 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 649 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 467 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 368 |
| 5 | Wipers | 332 |
| 6 | Electronic stability control | 328 |
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 | 25.5% | 6,526 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.8% | 2,770 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.0% | 2,041 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.2% | 827 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 754 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.2% | 554 |
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 | 11,248 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 11,262 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,574 | 21.9% |
| 90-120k | 429 | 21.7% |
| 120-150k | 66 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 25,110 | 13.2% |
| Diesel | 494 | 16.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,785 | 6.7% |
| 2022 | 4,976 | 10.1% |
| 2023 | 5,222 | 14.3% |
| 2024 | 5,236 | 16.1% |
| 2025 | 5,385 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Meriva
Before buying a 2017 Vauxhall Meriva, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 6.2% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (6.2% 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.
- Tyres (4.2% 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 (3.3% 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 2017 Vauxhall Merivas pass their MOT?
86.8% of the 25,604 2017 Vauxhall Meriva MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Vauxhall Meriva?
Suspension, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by tyres (4.2%).
Does the 2017 Meriva get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 28.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,604 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.