Van · 1996–2013 cars
Vauxhall Astra Van reliability
The Vauxhall Astra Van fails 45% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage, based on 30,822 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Vauxhall Astra Van before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 45%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 2% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 30,822
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 12,800
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Vauxhall Astra Van ages
Each point is the share of Vauxhall Astra Vans of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Vauxhall Astra Van | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 39.3% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 37.3% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 38.7% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 43.2% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 43.3% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 45.7% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 46.5% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 47.7% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 48.3% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 48.4% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 44.8% | 42.8% |
By year
The best and worst Vauxhall Astra Van years
2009 cars come out best and 2005 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Astra Van | 1,086 | 36% | 4% fewer fails | 135,832 |
| 2011 Astra Van | 2,860 | 38.3% | 4% fewer fails | 145,120 |
| 2010 Astra Van | 2,741 | 41.2% | 1% fewer fails | 144,353 |
| 2009 Astra Van | 1,830 | 40.9% | 5% fewer fails | 145,783 |
| 2008 Astra Van | 3,571 | 45.5% | 3% more fails | 149,577 |
| 2007 Astra Van | 3,545 | 44% | 2% fewer fails | 148,120 |
| 2006 Astra Van | 5,486 | 46% | 1% more fails | 147,383 |
| 2005 Astra Van | 5,291 | 49.7% | 8% more fails | 144,379 |
| 2004 Astra Van | 3,443 | 48.9% | 6% more fails | 141,142 |
| 2003 | 619 | 49.6% | 8% more fails | 141,415 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Vauxhall Astra Van
Its weak spot is windscreen, wipers and mirrors: 44% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics21.6%2% below avg
- Suspension21%14% above avg
- Brakes16.9%24% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors10.3%44% above avg
- Tyres9%10% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks8.1%19% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure6.4%26% below avg
- Steering2.4%44% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags1.4%52% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Coil spring fractured or broken 7.48% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 2
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 4.76% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
- 3
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 4.65% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 4
Position lamp not working 4.43% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 5
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 4.34% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 6
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 3.44% of tests
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.
- 7
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 3.38% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 8
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.85% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Vauxhall Astra Van's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy22.84%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit19.42%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive16.14%
- Brake disc pitted or scored12.93%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking8.9%
- Coil spring showing some corrosion7.02%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Vauxhall Astra Van
- 1
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 2
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
- 3
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 4
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Vauxhall Astra Van covers about 12,800 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Diesel97.3%
- Petrol2.3%
- LPG0.3%
- Other0%
- Electric0%
Most common colours
White, Silver, Black, Blue, Red
Average engine size: 1.7 litres.
Compare
How the Vauxhall Astra Van compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Crafter | 29.7% | 8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Vauxhall Astra Van | 45% | about average for its age |
| Citroën Relay | 36.3% | 13% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Fiat Scudo | 49.5% | 17% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan Primastar | 52.6% | 23% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Fiat Fiorino | 39.3% | 31% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Toyota Proace | 31.2% | 47% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every van ranked in the van reliability index, or all Vauxhall models.
Questions
Vauxhall Astra Van questions, answered
Is the Vauxhall Astra Van reliable?
On MOT results, the Vauxhall Astra Van is about average: it fails 45% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage. It ranks 9 of 40 van models in our index.
What fails most on a Vauxhall Astra Van MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Vauxhall Astra Van are coil spring fractured or broken (7.48% of tests), rigid brake pipe excessively corroded (4.76% of tests), headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect (4.65% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 21.6% of its tests.
Which Vauxhall Astra Van year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2009 cars do best (5% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2005 cars do worst (8% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Vauxhall Astra Van do a year?
A typical Vauxhall Astra Van covers about 12,800 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Vauxhall Astra Van before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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