Reliability report
Vauxhall Vivaro reliability and common faults
Based on 171,890 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
39.1%
fail rate · average 25.4%
much worse than average
148,138 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
61.3%
with defects · average 44.4%
much worse than average
5,260 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
44.9%
first-time pass · average 53.0%
much worse than average
18,492 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 Vivaro
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Seat belts and airbagsconfirmed in 2 countries
Steeringconfirmed in 2 countries
Driving controls
Brakesconfirmed in 2 countries
Suspensionconfirmed in 2 countries
Lights and electricsconfirmed in 2 countries
Plates and identificationconfirmed in 2 countries
Visibilityconfirmed in 2 countries
Exhaust and emissionsconfirmed in 2 countries
Body and structure
Tyres
Wheels
Most common test failures
- 1Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 2Tie rod end has too much play
- 3Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 4Tyre insufficient tread
- 5Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 6Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
- 7Seatbelt damaged
- 8Steering or steering knuckle ball joint with wear of 1.0 mm or less
- 9Steering knuckle (ball joint) too much play
- 10Sidelight not working (properly)
- 11Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 12Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 15.3% avg 9.9% | 48.3% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 30.0% avg 15.3% | 58.3% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 37.7% avg 22.9% | 61.6% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 45.0% avg 30.3% | 68.1% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | 44.8% avg 34.6% | 73.1% avg 64.7% |
| 21+ years | 43.6% avg 31.4% | — |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | Vivaro | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 51.0% | 83.2% | 96 |
| 2018 | 49.6% | 79.5% | 264 |
| 2017 | 60.8% | 76.6% | 625 |
| 2016 | 56.5% | 72.8% | 510 |
| 2015 | 60.8% | 71.1% | 581 |
| 2014 | 56.2% | 68.0% | 292 |
| 2013 | 52.5% | 65.9% | 417 |
| 2012 | 56.3% | 63.7% | 531 |
| 2011 | 49.6% | 61.2% | 780 |
| 2010 | 47.4% | 57.3% | 746 |
| 2009 | 44.5% | 54.5% | 1,065 |
| 2008 | 42.4% | 52.4% | 1,916 |
| 2007 | 42.9% | 50.6% | 1,884 |
| 2006 | 41.6% | 48.7% | 1,971 |
| 2005 | 43.0% | 46.6% | 2,014 |
Vauxhall Vivaro – FAQs
How reliable is the Vauxhall Vivaro?+
In the UK the Vauxhall Vivaro fails 39.1% of MOT tests, against an average of 25.4% for cars of the same age – much worse than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 61.3% of APK inspections (average there 44.4%) – much worse than average. In Lithuania 44.9% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 53.0%) – much worse than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Vauxhall Vivaro?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: seat belts and airbags, steering, brakes, suspension.
What should I check when buying a used Vauxhall Vivaro?+
The most common inspection failures: Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing; Tie rod end has too much play; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Tyre insufficient tread; Low beam incorrectly adjusted. 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: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).