2021 Vauxhall Vivaro Turbo D Ss — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,026 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Vauxhall Vivaro Turbo D Ss, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres. Its pass rate of 86.7% was below the average for cars of a similar age (91.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 15.0% in the 60-90k group versus 7.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 88 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.8% | 59 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.1% | 42 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.1% | 32 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.1% | 22 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 58 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 36 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 26 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 25 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 23 |
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 | 17.9% | 184 |
| 2 | Tyres | 14.5% | 149 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.5% | 67 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 48 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 46 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 29 |
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 | 340 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 511 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 127 | 15.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 56 | 5.4% |
| 2023 | 111 | 6.3% |
| 2024 | 420 | 15.0% |
| 2025 | 415 | 15.4% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Vivaro Turbo D Ss
Before buying a 2021 Vauxhall Vivaro Turbo D Ss, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 8.6% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (8.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (5.8% 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.
- Tyres (4.1% 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 2021 Vauxhall Vivaro Turbo D Sss pass their MOT?
86.7% of the 1,026 2021 Vauxhall Vivaro Turbo D Ss MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Vauxhall Vivaro Turbo D Ss?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by visibility (5.8%).
Does the 2021 Vivaro Turbo D Ss get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 15.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,026 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.