Large family car · 1996–2016 cars
Vauxhall Vectra reliability
The Vauxhall Vectra fails 45.9% of first MOT tests, 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 128,847 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Vauxhall Vectra before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 45.9%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 6% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 128,847
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 9,000
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Vauxhall Vectra ages
Each point is the share of Vauxhall Vectras of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Vauxhall Vectra | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 46.5% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 46.7% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 46.8% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 46.3% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 45.8% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 45.7% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 46.3% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 47% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 45.6% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 42.3% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 39.7% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 39.5% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 35.8% | 37.1% |
| 25 | 35.4% | 35.8% |
By year
The best and worst Vauxhall Vectra years
1999 cars come out best and 2003 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Vectra | 6,741 | 45.2% | 8% more fails | 111,773 |
| 2008 Vectra | 39,375 | 46.3% | 8% more fails | 112,360 |
| 2007 Vectra | 34,787 | 46.2% | 5% more fails | 115,851 |
| 2006 Vectra | 20,058 | 45.7% | 3% more fails | 116,555 |
| 2005 Vectra | 9,880 | 46.9% | 5% more fails | 117,950 |
| 2004 Vectra | 5,801 | 47.8% | 8% more fails | 113,751 |
| 2003 Vectra | 3,203 | 47.3% | 8% more fails | 107,056 |
| 2002 Vectra | 2,494 | 41.7% | 1% fewer fails | 100,580 |
| 2001 Vectra | 2,486 | 41.7% | 1% more fails | 96,577 |
| 2000 Vectra | 1,587 | 40.7% | 1% more fails | 97,737 |
| 1999 Vectra | 1,325 | 37.2% | 5% fewer fails | 106,307 |
| 1998 | 847 | 34.5% | 5% fewer fails | 91,935 |
| 1997 | 219 | 42% | 16% more fails | 96,915 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Vauxhall Vectra
Its weak spot is brakes: 47% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Suspension20.1%15% above avg
- Lights and electrics19%10% below avg
- Brakes18.4%47% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure8.6%5% above avg
- Tyres8.6%14% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks8.4%24% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors8%13% above avg
- Steering1.7%56% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags1.1%55% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Coil spring fractured or broken 7.28% 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 4.56% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
- 3
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 4.44% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 4
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 3.79% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 5
Position lamp not working 3.73% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 6
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 3.59% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 7
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 3.19% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 8
Parking brake inoperative on one side 3.19% of tests
The parking brake does not work on one side, so the car may not hold on a slope and needs repair.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Vauxhall Vectra's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit18.84%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive16.95%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy16.37%
- Brake disc pitted or scored12.07%
- Coil spring showing some corrosion9.44%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking8.51%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Vauxhall Vectra
- 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
Parking brake efficiency below minimum
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 4
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.
- 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 Vectra covers about 9,000 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
- Petrol64.7%
- Diesel35.2%
- LPG0.1%
- Other0%
- Electric0%
Most common colours
Silver, Black, Blue, Red, Beige
Average engine size: 1.9 litres.
Compare
How the Vauxhall Vectra compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Skoda Superb | 21.4% | 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Saab 9-3 | 37.3% | 12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Toyota Avensis | 33.7% | 11% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Honda Accord | 38.7% | 8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mazda 6 | 30% | 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Tesla Model 3 | 14.7% | about average for its age |
| Vauxhall Vectra | 45.9% | 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every large family car ranked in the large family car reliability index, or all Vauxhall models.
Questions
Vauxhall Vectra questions, answered
Is the Vauxhall Vectra reliable?
On MOT results, the Vauxhall Vectra is about average: it fails 45.9% of first MOT tests, 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 25 of 29 large family car models in our index.
What fails most on a Vauxhall Vectra MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Vauxhall Vectra are coil spring fractured or broken (7.28% of tests), rigid brake pipe excessively corroded (4.56% of tests), parking brake efficiency below minimum (4.44% of tests). By area, suspension fails 20.1% of its tests.
Which Vauxhall Vectra year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 1999 cars do best (5% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2003 cars do worst (8% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Vauxhall Vectra do a year?
A typical Vauxhall Vectra covers about 9,000 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 Vectra 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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