2020 Vauxhall Vivaro S/S — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 475 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Vauxhall Vivaro S/S, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes. Its pass rate of 87.2% was below the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 12.8% in the 90-120k group versus 0.0% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

475

MOT tests analysed

12.8%

Fail rate

worse than

vs cars of similar age

3.9

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 Vivaro S/S
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Lighting & signalling	8.8%	42
2	Visibility	5.3%	25
3	Brakes	3.6%	17
4	Tyres	2.5%	12
5	Suspension	1.5%	7
6	Body, structure & corrosion	0.8%	4

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 Vivaro S/S
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Headlamp aim	26
2	Wipers	25
3	Brake pads	13
4	Headlamp	11
5	Registration plate lamp(s)	10
6	Ball joint	7

Top advisory categories

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

Most common MOT advisories — 2020 Vauxhall Vivaro S/S
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Brakes	13.1%	62
2	Tyres	10.1%	48
3	Emissions & environmental	6.3%	30
4	Other defects	5.1%	24
5	Lighting & signalling	3.4%	16
6	Suspension	2.5%	12

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 Vivaro S/S
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	51	0.0%
30-60k	210	14.8%
60-90k	126	11.1%
90-120k	47	12.8%

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 Vivaro S/S
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	151	13.3%
2024	154	11.0%
2025	154	14.9%

What to check before buying a 2020 Vivaro S/S

Before buying a 2020 Vauxhall Vivaro S/S, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 8.8% of tests for this year.

Lighting & signalling (8.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Visibility (5.3% 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 (3.6% 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 2020 Vauxhall Vivaro S/Ss pass their MOT?

87.2% of the 475 2020 Vauxhall Vivaro S/S MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Vauxhall Vivaro S/S?

Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.8% of tests, followed by visibility (5.3%).

Does the 2020 Vivaro S/S get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 0.0% in the 0-30k band to 12.8% in the 90-120k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 475 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.