Diesel Vauxhall Corsa: MOT pass rate

67.2% of diesel Vauxhall Corsas pass the MOT first time, measured across 69,438 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 100,768.

Diesel against the other Vauxhall Corsa 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 Corsa specifically, petrol is the strongest at 70.7%, and this diesel version sits 3.2 points below the 70.4% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Vauxhall Corsa 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 Corsa had covered 100,768 miles at test, against 67,068 for the petrol. That is above average and into the range where cambelts and water pumps are due if they have not already been done, so ask for the service history rather than take the mileage on trust.

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 Corsa page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Vauxhall Corsa

1. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 2% of tests (5.73x the national rate for this defect)
2. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.6% of tests (4.81x the national rate for this defect)
3. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3.7% of tests (3.91x the national rate for this defect)
4. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 7.9% of tests (3.45x the national rate for this defect)
5. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 3% of tests (2.48x the national rate for this defect)
6. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.1% of tests (2.31x the national rate for this defect)
7. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 3.6% of tests (2.16x the national rate for this defect)
8. A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, 1.9% of tests (2.13x the national rate for this defect)
9. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 4.1% of tests (1.75x the national rate for this defect)
10. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 2% of tests (1.56x the national rate for this defect)

From 69,854 DVSA-tracked diesel Vauxhall Corsa tests, 2024, split out from the Vauxhall Corsa's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 4.53% 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 Corsa

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

1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 12.5% of tests (3.19x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 3.8% of tests (2.79x the national rate for this defect)
3. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 13.3% of tests (2.56x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 13.8% of tests (2.47x the national rate for this defect)
5. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 2.4% of tests (1.88x the national rate for this defect)
6. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 8.7% of tests (1.84x the national rate for this defect), also fails
7. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 5.2% of tests (1.84x the national rate for this defect)
8. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4.8% of tests (1.8x the national rate for this defect)
9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 31% of tests (1.16x the national rate for this defect)
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 16.4% of tests

From 69,854 DVSA-tracked diesel Vauxhall Corsa tests, 2024.

Other Vauxhall Corsa fuel types

• Petrol Vauxhall Corsa - 70.7%

All Vauxhall Corsa MOT data · Every model