Vauxhall Tigra years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

3,481 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2006–2009 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

Vauxhall Tigra years with MOT pass rates below the average for vehicles first used in the same year: 2007 and 2009. None is clearly above it. The other year can't be told apart from average.

Below the average for their first-use year2007 and 2009
Above the average for their first-use yearNone
Can't be told apart from average2006

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.

53.3%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 51.7% to 55.0%.

Vauxhall Tigra, all years53.3%
Same-age average, all vehicles57.6%

In 2025, 53.3% of the 3,481 initial MOT tests on Vauxhall Tigra cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 57.6%. That is 4.3 points below the same-age average.

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Its own MOT history, free.

Vauxhall Tigra 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
2009age 16	1,28269,500	52.0%±2.8	−6.3 ptsall: 58.3%
2007age 18	1,07377,500	51.4%±3.0	−6.0 ptsall: 57.4%
2006age 19	1,12680,700	56.7%±3.0	−0.3 ptsall: 57.0%

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 Tigra problems at the MOT

Share of the 1,624 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these can add up to more than 100%.

Suspension41.7%
Brakes40.7%
Lights and electrics36.9%
Tyres20.1%
Body, chassis, structure19.8%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors15.5%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems.

Most common MOT failures on the Vauxhall Tigra

The defects recorded most often at the 1,624 failed initial tests on Vauxhall Tigra cars, all years together, in the DVSA's own words. Each share is of failed tests, and a failed test can have more than one defect.

Defect	Share of failed tests	All vehicles, same age
Parking brake efficiency below requirementsBrakes	15.5%252 tests	6.2%
Coil spring fractured or brokenSuspension	14.7%238 tests	8.5%
Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirtBody, chassis, structure	9.9%160 tests	6.9%
Track rod end ball joint has excessive playSteering	8.3%135 tests	4.2%
Rigid brake pipes excessively corrodedBrakes	7.8%127 tests	3.4%
Position lamp not workingLights and electrics	7.4%120 tests	14.0%
Suspension arm ball joint excessively wornSuspension	6.8%111 tests	5.9%
Wiper does not clear the windscreen effectivelyWindscreen, wipers, mirrors	6.7%108 tests	5.9%
Rear fog lamp not workingLights and electrics	6.7%108 tests	2.1%
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gasesBody, chassis, structure	6.5%106 tests	4.1%

These are failures recorded at initial MOT tests in 2025. Retests are not counted. "All vehicles, same age" is the same defect's share of failed tests for all vehicles first used in the same years, weighted by the Tigra's failed tests in each year. How we count

What to check when viewing a Tigra

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

Suspension
In 41.7% of failed Tigra tests
- Push down hard on each corner. Check the car rises once and settles, not bouncing again and again.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- Check the car sits level when parked on flat ground.
Brakes
In 40.7% of failed Tigra tests
- On a clear road, brake firmly and check the car stops 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.
Lights and electrics
In 36.9% of failed Tigra 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.
- Check the dashboard warning lights come on when the car is switched on and then go out. Ask about any that stay lit.
Tyres
In 20.1% of failed Tigra tests
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.

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

Check a Tigra's MOT history

Vauxhall Tigra questions

Which Vauxhall Tigra 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: 2007 and 2009. None is clearly above average. The rest can't be told apart from average. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the Vauxhall Tigra reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 53.3% of initial MOT tests on Vauxhall Tigra cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 57.6%. That is 4.3 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 Tigra problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are suspension (in 41.7% of failed tests), brakes (in 40.7% of failed tests) and lights and electrics (in 36.9% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 16-year-old Vauxhall Tigra?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Vauxhall Tigra cars first used in 2009, about 16 years old, had a median of 69,500 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific Tigra'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 Tigra

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 18 Vauxhall models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

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