Reliability report
Vauxhall Corsa reliability and common faults
Based on 918,720 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
33.1%
fail rate · average 28.1%
much worse than average
624,074 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
57.9%
with defects · average 53.7%
worse than average
266,788 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
45.8%
first-time pass · average 50.3%
worse than average
27,858 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Vauxhall Corsa
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Driving controls
Steering
Suspensionconfirmed in 2 countries
Exhaust and emissionsconfirmed in 2 countries
Visibilityconfirmed in 2 countries
Lights and electricsconfirmed in 2 countries
Body and structure
Tyres
Plates and identification
Brakes
Seat belts and airbags
Wheels
Most common test failures
- 1Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 2Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 3Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 4Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 5Tyre insufficient tread
- 6Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 7Exhaust system not gas-tight / unsafe exhaust gas discharge
- 8Spring broken or cracked
- 9Sidelight not working (properly)
- 10Steering gear dust cover damaged, not sealing
- 11Tyre damaged
- 12Turn signal color incorrect/not allowed
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 7.3% avg 9.9% | 30.6% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 21.0% avg 15.3% | 31.6% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 31.2% avg 22.9% | 55.2% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 33.3% avg 30.3% | 59.9% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | 36.7% avg 34.6% | 67.1% avg 64.7% |
| 21+ years | 39.7% avg 31.4% | 67.4% avg 68.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | Corsa | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81.9% | 86.7% | 72 |
| 2020 | 78.9% | 78.6% | 52 |
| 2019 | 77.8% | 83.2% | 90 |
| 2018 | 76.5% | 79.5% | 170 |
| 2017 | 79.5% | 76.6% | 298 |
| 2016 | 74.8% | 72.8% | 400 |
| 2015 | 71.6% | 71.1% | 782 |
| 2014 | 57.4% | 68.0% | 507 |
| 2013 | 58.7% | 65.9% | 537 |
| 2012 | 58.0% | 63.7% | 629 |
| 2011 | 55.1% | 61.2% | 1,413 |
| 2010 | 50.8% | 57.3% | 1,306 |
| 2009 | 51.8% | 54.5% | 1,696 |
| 2008 | 50.2% | 52.4% | 3,131 |
| 2007 | 47.8% | 50.6% | 3,903 |
Vauxhall Corsa – FAQs
How reliable is the Vauxhall Corsa?+
In the UK the Vauxhall Corsa fails 33.1% of MOT tests, against an average of 28.1% for cars of the same age – much worse than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 57.9% of APK inspections (average there 53.7%) – worse than average. In Lithuania 45.8% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 50.3%) – worse than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Vauxhall Corsa?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: steering, suspension, exhaust and emissions, visibility.
What should I check when buying a used Vauxhall Corsa?+
The most common inspection failures: Excessive leakage of other fluids; Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing; Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Tyre insufficient tread. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Vauxhall models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).