Vauxhall Nova: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Vauxhall Nova passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 6.8 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 877 individual Vauxhall Nova tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 83.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 17 in every 100 Vauxhall Novas presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Vauxhall Nova tested had covered 53,954 miles and was built around 1989.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Vauxhall Nova sits 6.8 points above the national average, ranked 1,322 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

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 Nova 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 Novas at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Vauxhall Nova

1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 3.1% of tests (8.69x the national rate for this defect)
2. 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, 5.1% of tests (5.43x 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., 2.6% of tests (5.01x the national rate for this defect)
4. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 5% of tests (2.13x the national rate for this defect)
5. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 2.1% of tests (1.98x the national rate for this defect)
6. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.6% of tests
7. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 1.6% of tests (5.97x the national rate for this defect)
8. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.4% of tests
9. Audible warning inoperative, 1.3% of tests (4.45x the national rate for this defect)
10. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 1.1% of tests (2.76x the national rate for this defect)

From 878 DVSA-tracked Vauxhall Nova tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.8% of these flagged Vauxhall Nova defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Vauxhall Nova

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 Nova before it actually fails on it.

1. A wheel bearing with excessive play, 5.1% of tests (7.9x the national rate for this advisory)
2. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 4.3% of tests (7.72x the national rate for this advisory)
3. A wheel bearing excessively rough, 2.8% of tests (7.65x the national rate for this advisory)
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, 5.2% of tests (3.45x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
5. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 4.2% of tests (3.39x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
6. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3% of tests (1.48x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
7. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 7.9% of tests (1.41x the national rate for this advisory)
8. A tyre seriously damaged, 7.2% of tests
9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 6% of tests
10. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 4.4% of tests

From 878 DVSA-tracked Vauxhall Nova tests, 2024.

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

• Ford Granada - 83.6%
• Audi Q3 - 83.5%
• Land Rover Discovery Sport R-Dyn S D A - 83.5%
• Land Rover Discovery Spt Rdyn S+ D Mhev A - 83.4%
• Land Rover Discovery Sport S D Auto - 83.4%
• Ford Transit Custom - 83.3%

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?

Embed this data

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate