Diesel Vauxhall Agila: MOT pass rate

61.1% of diesel Vauxhall Agilas pass the MOT first time, measured across 574 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 84,947.

Diesel against the other Vauxhall Agila versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Vauxhall Agila specifically, petrol is the strongest at 68.2%, and this diesel version sits 7 points below the 68.1% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Vauxhall Agila fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Vauxhall Agila had covered 84,947 miles at test, against 64,950 for the petrol. That is above average, the point where suspension bushes, drop links and exhaust corrosion start showing up as advisories before they become failures.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Vauxhall Agila page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Vauxhall Agila

1. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 7.7% of tests (7.22x the national rate for this defect)
2. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 6.7% of tests (6.45x the national rate for this defect)
3. Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle., 2.7% of tests (5.25x the national rate for this defect)
4. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 6.5% of tests (5.01x the national rate for this defect)
5. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3.9% of tests (4.15x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 19.4% of tests (3.86x the national rate for this defect)
7. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 5.8% of tests (3.17x the national rate for this defect)
8. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 7.2% of tests (3.16x the national rate for this defect)
9. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 2.9% of tests (3.09x the national rate for this defect)
10. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 3.6% of tests (1.89x the national rate for this defect)

From 583 DVSA-tracked diesel Vauxhall Agila tests, 2024, split out from the Vauxhall Agila's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 4% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Vauxhall Agila

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 9.8% of tests (7.68x the national rate for this defect)
2. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 39.1% of tests (6.32x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 11.7% of tests (5.84x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 7% of tests (4.63x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 4.8% of tests (3.51x the national rate for this defect)
6. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 3.8% of tests (3.03x the national rate for this defect)
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 34.3% of tests (2.57x the national rate for this defect), also fails
8. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 13.6% of tests (2.44x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 9.4% of tests (1.82x the national rate for this defect)
10. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4.3% of tests (1.62x the national rate for this defect)

From 583 DVSA-tracked diesel Vauxhall Agila tests, 2024.

Other Vauxhall Agila fuel types

• Petrol Vauxhall Agila - 68.2%

All Vauxhall Agila MOT data · Every model