Vauxhall Combo years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

98,038 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2003–2022 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

All 20 Vauxhall Combo years have MOT pass rates below the average for vehicles first used in the same year.

Below the average for their first-use year2003–2022
Above the average for their first-use yearNone
Can't be told apart from averageNone

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

62.4%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 62.1% to 62.7%.

Vauxhall Combo, all years62.4%
Same-age average, all vehicles74.0%

In 2025, 62.4% of the 98,038 initial MOT tests on Vauxhall Combo cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 74.0%. That is 11.6 points below the same-age average.

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Its own MOT history, free.

Vauxhall Combo MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2022age 3	5,47938,600	74.0%±1.2	−14.5 ptsall: 88.5%
2021age 4	10,13655,100	71.1%±0.9	−16.1 ptsall: 87.2%
2020age 5	11,60060,500	73.4%±0.9	−12.6 ptsall: 86.0%
2019age 6	15,39261,900	73.2%±0.8	−10.3 ptsall: 83.5%
2018age 7	2,89171,600	66.4%±1.8	−14.5 ptsall: 80.9%
2017age 8	3,48985,800	60.1%±1.7	−18.1 ptsall: 78.2%
2016age 9	4,84197,400	58.6%±1.4	−16.3 ptsall: 74.9%
2015age 10	4,740104,700	58.0%±1.5	−13.9 ptsall: 71.9%
2014age 11	4,392106,300	55.4%±1.5	−13.2 ptsall: 68.6%
2013age 12	2,780112,600	54.3%±1.9	−11.5 ptsall: 65.8%
2012age 13	2,546115,700	52.3%±2.0	−11.2 ptsall: 63.5%
2011age 14	6,635104,400	57.4%±1.2	−3.8 ptsall: 61.2%
2010age 15	5,631107,100	53.1%±1.4	−6.2 ptsall: 59.3%
2009age 16	3,164121,200	48.9%±1.8	−9.4 ptsall: 58.3%
2008age 17	4,158128,000	48.8%±1.6	−8.4 ptsall: 57.2%
2007age 18	3,409129,100	46.6%±1.7	−10.8 ptsall: 57.4%
2006age 19	2,568125,000	47.1%±2.0	−9.9 ptsall: 57.0%
2005age 20	1,644125,000	51.6%±2.5	−6.0 ptsall: 57.6%
2004age 21	1,458139,600	47.7%±2.6	−10.1 ptsall: 57.8%
2003age 22	1,085134,200	48.7%±3.0	−10.0 ptsall: 58.7%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Common Combo problems at the MOT

Share of the 36,888 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these add up to more than 100%.

Lights and electrics47.3%
Suspension35.4%
Brakes24.1%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors22.4%
Tyres21.1%
Body, chassis, structure14.9%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.

What to check when viewing a Combo

Based on the areas where Vauxhall Combo MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Lights and electrics
In 47.3% of failed Combo tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.
Suspension
In 35.4% of failed Combo tests
- Push down hard on each corner. The car should rise once and settle, not keep bouncing.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- The car should sit level when parked on flat ground.
Brakes
In 24.1% of failed Combo tests
- On a clear road, brake firmly. The car should stop in a straight line without juddering or pulling to one side.
- Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope.
- Look through the wheels at the brake discs for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors
In 22.4% of failed Combo tests
- Look for chips and cracks in the windscreen, especially in front of the driver.
- Run the wipers and washers. The blades should clear the screen without smearing.
- Check both door mirrors and the rear-view mirror are intact and adjust.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a Combo's MOT history

Vauxhall Combo questions

Which Vauxhall Combo years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, these model years have below-average MOT pass rates: 2003–2022. None is clearly above average. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the Vauxhall Combo reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 62.4% of initial MOT tests on Vauxhall Combo cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 74.0%. That is 11.6 points below average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common Vauxhall Combo problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are lights and electrics (in 47.3% of failed tests), suspension (in 35.4% of failed tests) and brakes (in 24.1% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 10-year-old Vauxhall Combo?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Vauxhall Combo cars first used in 2015, about 10 years old, had a median of 104,700 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific Combo's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any Vauxhall Combo

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Vauxhall models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 16 Vauxhall models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Vauxhall Combo cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count