Vauxhall Agila: what fails at MOT
41,000 MOT tests on the Vauxhall Agila in 2024, counted. 38.2% failed at the first attempt.
The short answer
38.3% of Vauxhall Agila tests failed at the first attempt. Cars of the same ages averaged 36.6%, so the Agila is about average for its age.
It fails most often on suspension (14.1% of tests), brakes (9.8% of tests) and lights and electrics (8.9% of tests). It fails on suspension, brakes and wipers, washers and windscreen more often than most cars its age.
By year of registration
Older cars fail more, whatever the model. So each year is shown beside the figure for all cars first used that year.
| First used | Tests | Failed first time | All cars that year | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 4,400 | 26.8% | 27.7% | 43,200 28,900 to 60,600 |
| 2013 | 4,378 | 30.3% | 30.6% | 47,900 32,500 to 68,000 |
| 2012 | 5,016 | 34.0% | 33.4% | 53,600 36,900 to 74,500 |
| 2011 | 5,456 | 39.5% | 36.1% | 59,400 42,000 to 81,700 |
| 2010 | 4,790 | 39.9% | 38.6% | 62,100 42,200 to 81,800 |
| 2009 | 7,021 | 44.7% | 39.8% | 65,300 46,600 to 87,200 |
| 2008 | 3,853 | 47.7% | 41.5% | 67,900 49,300 to 90,200 |
| 2007 | 1,364 | 40.5% | 41.5% | 67,200 51,600 to 87,700 |
| 2006 | 1,485 | 40.7% | 42.4% | 70,900 51,000 to 92,100 |
| 2005 | 1,574 | 40.0% | 42.2% | 72,900 52,400 to 93,200 |
| 2004 | 1,569 | 41.0% | 42.3% | 72,400 54,400 to 92,400 |
Green is at least three points better than other cars that year, red at least three points worse. Typical mileage is the middle reading at the test, with the range the middle half of cars fell in.
Where it fails
The share of Vauxhall Agila tests with at least one failure in each part of the MOT, beside what cars of the same ages average.
| Part of the test | Agila | Cars its age | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 14.1% | 9.7% | More than most |
| Brakes | 9.8% | 6.5% | More than most |
| Lights and electrics | 8.9% | 11.4% | |
| Wipers, washers and windscreen | 5.3% | 3.9% | More than most |
| Tyres | 4.4% | 4.9% | |
| Body and structure | 2.4% | 3.8% | Less than most |
| Exhaust and emissions | 1.9% | 3.2% | Less than most |
| Steering | 0.9% | 2.1% | Less than most |
The parts that fail most
- Ball joint5.2%
- Coil spring3.7%
- Footbrake3.3%
- Wipers3.3%
- Tyre3.0%
- Brake pipes2.8%
- Brake test2.7%
- Brake light2.4%
- Side light2.2%
- Suspension pins and bushes2.0%
Share of tests with a failure on that part.
The most common failures
- Ball joint: excessively worn4.9%
- Coil spring: fractured or broken3.7%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.2%
- Footbrake: excessively binding2.8%
- Brake pipes: excessively corroded2.6%
- Brake light: not working2.2%
- Brake test: efficiency below requirements2.2%
- Side light: not working2.1%
- Suspension pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.9%
- Tyre tread: below requirements of 1.6mm1.8%
What testers warn about
Advisories are things that passed this time but are wearing. They are the best guide to next year's bills.
- Brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material16.0%
- Tyre tread: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge12.3%
- Tyre: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing10.8%
- Suspension pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement9.3%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened5.0%
- Footbrake: binding but not excessively3.8%
- Flexible brake hoses: has slight corrosion to ferrule3.0%
- Number plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread3.0%
What these figures can't tell you
An MOT is a safety and emissions test. These figures show how often the model fails that test. They say nothing about engines, gearboxes or electronics that break between tests, and how a car has been looked after matters more than its badge. The car you are looking at has its own MOT record, and that is the one to read.
Ask before you travel
- “Have any suspension parts been replaced, such as springs, ball joints or bushes, and can I see the invoice?”
- “When were the brake pads and discs last changed?”
- “Do the wipers and washers work properly, and is the windscreen chipped or cracked?”
- “Do all the lights work, including the number plate lights and brake lights?”
Check a Vauxhall Agila's own MOT record
Type the registration from the advert. You'll see every test that car has had, what it failed on and what it was warned about, free.
Where this comes from
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The counting is Hindsight's own.
First-attempt MOT tests of cars first used 2004 to 2021. A test counts as failed if it failed or only passed after a repair during the test. Retests are left out. Built on 13 November 2026.