Vauxhall Ampera: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Vauxhall Ampera fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 4.2 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,187 individual Vauxhall Ampera tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 72.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 28 in every 100 Vauxhall Amperas presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Vauxhall Ampera tested had covered 95,088 miles and was built around 2013.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Vauxhall Ampera sits 4.2 points below the national average, ranked 1,696 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Vauxhall Ampera rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Vauxhall Amperas at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Vauxhall Ampera

1. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 4.6% of tests (7.1x the national rate for this defect)
2. A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative, 1.4% of tests (5.26x the national rate for this defect)
3. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 6.1% of tests (4.76x the national rate for this defect)
4. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 7.1% of tests (4.64x the national rate for this defect)
5. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 1.3% of tests (3.46x the national rate for this defect)
6. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3.2% of tests (1.91x the national rate for this defect)
7. A tyre seriously damaged, 5.1% of tests (1.81x the national rate for this defect)
8. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 2.1% of tests (1.72x the national rate for this defect)
9. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 1.4% of tests (1.7x the national rate for this defect)
10. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 3.2% of tests (1.41x the national rate for this defect)

From 1,183 DVSA-tracked Vauxhall Ampera tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.8% of these flagged Vauxhall Ampera defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Vauxhall Ampera

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Vauxhall Ampera before it actually fails on it.

1. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 33.5% of tests (2.73x the national rate for this advisory)
2. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 2.1% of tests (2.49x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 2.5% of tests (1.27x the national rate for this advisory)
4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 32.6% of tests (1.22x the national rate for this advisory)
5. A tyre seriously damaged, 16.7% of tests, also fails
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 5.7% of tests
7. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 4.1% of tests
8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 3.5% of tests
9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 2.7% of tests
10. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 2.4% of tests

From 1,183 DVSA-tracked Vauxhall Ampera tests, 2024.

Vauxhall Ampera pass rate by model year

From its 2012 to its 2014 model year, the Vauxhall Ampera's first-time pass rate has risen 1.3 points, from 70.3% to 71.6%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Vauxhall Ampera year:

• 2012 Vauxhall Ampera - 70.3% first-time pass, 394 tests
• 2013 Vauxhall Ampera - 80.4% first-time pass, 224 tests
• 2014 Vauxhall Ampera - 71.6% first-time pass, 461 tests

Vauxhall Ampera by fuel type

Diesel and petrol versions of the same car fail on different things, so the fuel type moves the number.

• Hybrid Vauxhall Ampera - 73.9% first-time pass, 947 tests
• Electric Vauxhall Ampera - 70.8% first-time pass, 202 tests

Other Vauxhall models

• Vauxhall Corsa - 70%
• Vauxhall Astra - 71.9%
• Vauxhall Mokka - 75.6%
• Vauxhall Zafira - 68.7%
• Vauxhall Insignia - 73.5%
• Vauxhall Vivaro - 59.7%
• Vauxhall Meriva - 68.9%
• Vauxhall Combo - 66.3%

Models with a similar pass rate

• DS Ds4 - 72.6%
• Toyota Landcruiser Amazon - 72.6%
• Hyundai I800 - 72.5%
• MG Tf - 72.4%
• Toyota Hi-Ace - 72.3%
• Lexus Rx300 - 72.3%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate