Vauxhall Cavalier MOT failures and reliability

In 2023 the Vauxhall Cavalier took 1,241 MOT tests in Britain and passed 73% of them first time, close to the national average of 71% for all cars. The figures below come from the DVSA's record of every test, so they show what testers actually found on these cars rather than what owners report.

MOT tests in 2023

1,241

First-time pass rate

73%

All cars

71%

What the Cavalier fails on

Share of tests with at least one failure in each area, against the figure for all cars.

• Lights and electrics11.1% (all cars 11.3%)
• Suspension10.5% (all cars 9.0%)
• Brakes8.5% (all cars 6.8%)
• Body and structure8.2% (all cars 3.5%)
• Exhaust and emissions7.3% (all cars 3.1%)
• Visibility4.6% (all cars 4.8%)
• Seat belts and airbags2.2% (all cars 1.0%)
• Tyres1.8% (all cars 6.4%)

Most common failure items

Share of tests on which each item was recorded.

1. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength 4.8%
2. Service brake imbalance: across an axle 2.6%
3. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases 2.3%
4. Coil spring: fractured or broken 2.2%
5. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively 2.0%
6. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps 1.9%
7. Prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced 1.9%
8. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 1.8%

Most common advisories

1. Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive 14.5%
2. Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material 11.3%
3. Tyres, condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing 6.7%
4. Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 6.0%
5. Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases 5.4%
6. Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened 5.1%
7. Non-component advisories: Fuel Pipe/s corroded 4.7%
8. Coil spring: corroded 4.7%

Check a particular Cavalier

Model figures tell you what to look out for. To see one car's own MOT history, mileage and tax, enter its registration.

Other Vauxhall models

• Vauxhall Corsa
• Vauxhall Astra
• Vauxhall Zafira
• Vauxhall Mokka
• Vauxhall Insignia
• Vauxhall Vivaro
• Vauxhall Combo
• Vauxhall Meriva
• Vauxhall Adam
• Vauxhall Grandland
• Vauxhall Crossland
• Vauxhall Vectra
• Vauxhall Viva
• Vauxhall Agila
• Vauxhall Antara
• Vauxhall Astravan
• Vauxhall Tigra
• Vauxhall Movano
• Vauxhall Corsavan
• Vauxhall Cascada
• Vauxhall Signum
• Vauxhall Omega
• Vauxhall Ampera

Source: Department for Transport, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023, cars and light vans, normal tests only. Pass rates are first-time passes; a pass after repair at the test station counts as a fail. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.