Vauxhall Viva common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Vauxhall Viva at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 38,393 UK MOT tests of the Vauxhall Viva in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is exhaust system (mounting defective): recorded on 10% of tests of 2017–2019 cars at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km), 50× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: track rod end (ball joint has slight play) (16×); tyre pressure monitoring system (malfunctioning or obviously inoperative) (7.3×); engine oil leaks (leak, but not excessive) (4.4×). The most common reasons a Vauxhall Viva fails its MOT are wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively); tyre pressure monitoring system (malfunctioning or obviously inoperative); tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Vauxhall Viva
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Vauxhall Viva than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exhaust system: mounting defective | Advisory | 2017–2019 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 10% | 0.2% | 50× | 608 |
| Track rod end: ball joint has slight play | Advisory | 2018–2020 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 3.2% | 0.2% | 16× | 831 |
| Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative | MOT fail | 2014–2016 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 7.3% | 1% | 7.3× | 479 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | Advisory | 2014–2016 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 3.1% | 0.7% | 4.4× | 8,048 |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | MOT fail | 2014–2016 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 5.2% | 0.9% | 5.8× | 479 |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | MOT fail | 2018–2020 | 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 5.2% | 1.8% | 2.9× | 4,818 |
| Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | Advisory | 2017–2019 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 16% | 4.9% | 3.2× | 608 |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | Advisory | 2017–2019 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 4.9% | 2.1% | 2.3× | 608 |
Vauxhall Viva by mileage (2016–2018 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 7,972 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (14%) | — |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 12,791 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (17%) | Exhaust system: mounting defective (4.4%, 15×) |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 6,033 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (15%) | Exhaust system: mounting defective (8.6%, 21×) |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 1,730 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (19%) | Exhaust system: mounting defective (12%, 39×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 426 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (17%) | Exhaust system: mounting defective (11%, 35×) |
Vauxhall Viva by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 5,171 | Exhaust system: mounting defective at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (23×) |
| 2016 | 13,849 | Exhaust system: mounting defective at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (28×) |
| 2017 | 9,760 | Exhaust system: mounting defective at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (39×) |
| 2018 | 5,482 | Exhaust system: mounting defective at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (50×) |
| 2019 | 4,130 | Exhaust system: mounting defective at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (17×) |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Vauxhall Viva?
In 38,393 UK MOT tests of the Vauxhall Viva in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is exhaust system (mounting defective): recorded on 10% of tests of 2017–2019 cars at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km), 50× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: track rod end (ball joint has slight play) (16×); tyre pressure monitoring system (malfunctioning or obviously inoperative) (7.3×); engine oil leaks (leak, but not excessive) (4.4×). The most common reasons a Vauxhall Viva fails its MOT are wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively); tyre pressure monitoring system (malfunctioning or obviously inoperative); tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm).
Why do Vauxhall Vivas fail the MOT?
Across 38,393 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Vauxhall Viva were wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) (3.3% of tests); tyre pressure monitoring system (malfunctioning or obviously inoperative) (3.7% of tests); tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm) (3.5% of tests).
At what mileage do Vauxhall Viva problems start?
The clearest Vauxhall Viva-specific issue, exhaust system (mounting defective), peaks against other cars at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) on 2017–2019 cars (10% of tests vs 0.2% for all cars that age).
Where does this Vauxhall Viva data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 38,393 tests of the Vauxhall Viva. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.