2018 Vauxhall Vivaro — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 70,426 MOT tests analysed for the 2018 Vauxhall Vivaro, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 81.1% was below the average for vans of a similar age (83.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 24.2% in the 150k+ group versus 10.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.6% | 6,069 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 4,995 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.8% | 3,385 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 2,967 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.0% | 2,837 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 2,245 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 2,674 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 2,613 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 2,547 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 2,143 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joints | 2,134 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 2,082 |
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 | 19.0% | 13,359 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.8% | 12,508 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.6% | 10,281 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.3% | 5,133 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 4,790 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.2% | 4,337 |
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 | 9,114 | 10.7% |
| 30-60k | 24,911 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 19,412 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 10,349 | 23.8% |
| 120-150k | 4,186 | 23.5% |
| 150k+ | 2,424 | 24.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,656 | 14.1% |
| 2022 | 13,863 | 16.2% |
| 2023 | 14,069 | 18.4% |
| 2024 | 14,501 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 14,337 | 23.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Vivaro
Before buying a 2018 Vauxhall Vivaro, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 8.6% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (8.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.8% 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 2018 Vauxhall Vivaros pass their MOT?
81.1% of the 70,426 2018 Vauxhall Vivaro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Vauxhall Vivaro?
Suspension, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.1%).
Does the 2018 Vivaro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.7% in the 0-30k band to 24.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 70,426 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.