Vauxhall Vivaro common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Vauxhall Vivaro at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 183,520 UK MOT tests of the Vauxhall Vivaro in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is track rod end (ball joint has excessive play): recorded on 4% of tests of 2016–2018 cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km), 20× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: linkage ball joints (ball joint excessively worn) (14×); linkage ball joints (ball joint has slight play) (14×); track rod end (ball joint has slight play) (11×). The most common reasons a Vauxhall Vivaro fails its MOT are track rod end (ball joint has excessive play); position lamp (not working); ball joint (ball joint excessively worn).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Vauxhall Vivaro
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Vauxhall Vivaro 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play | MOT fail | 2016–2018 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 4% | 0.2% | 20× | 9,476 |
| Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn | MOT fail | 2015–2017 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 5.6% | 0.4% | 14× | 10,427 |
| Linkage ball joints: ball joint has slight play | Advisory | 2015–2017 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 4.2% | 0.3% | 14× | 8,610 |
| Track rod end: ball joint has slight play | Advisory | 2015–2017 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 5.3% | 0.5% | 11× | 10,992 |
| Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | MOT fail | 2012–2014 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 5% | 0.5% | 10× | 584 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | Advisory | 2020–2022 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 3.4% | 0.6% | 5.7× | 3,643 |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | MOT fail | 2017–2019 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 3.9% | 0.8% | 4.9× | 7,372 |
| Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak | MOT fail | 2016–2018 | 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 4.9% | 1% | 4.9× | 5,064 |
Vauxhall Vivaro by mileage (2015–2017 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) | 460 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (6.1%) | — |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 3,416 | Brake pads: wearing thin (8.7%) | Linkage ball joints: ball joint has slight play (3.1%, 16×) |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 8,610 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (12%) | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play (5.7%, 19×) |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 10,992 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (14%) | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play (9.1%, 15×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 10,427 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (16%) | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play (12%, 15×) |
| 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 7,963 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (16%) | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play (13%, 13×) |
| 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 5,348 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (15%) | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play (13%, 11×) |
| 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) | 3,246 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (17%) | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play (13%, 8.9×) |
| 160k+ mi (257k+ km) | 3,802 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (16%) | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play (12%, 8.2×) |
Vauxhall Vivaro by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 961 | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (5.2×) |
| 2003 | 2,423 | Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (3.9×) |
| 2004 | 4,707 | Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (6.1×) |
| 2005 | 6,698 | Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (5.7×) |
| 2006 | 8,316 | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (6.7×) |
| 2007 | 9,444 | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (7.3×) |
| 2008 | 9,274 | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (7.5×) |
| 2009 | 4,480 | Track rod end: ball joint has slight play at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (9.3×) |
| 2010 | 6,840 | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (8.6×) |
| 2011 | 11,170 | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (9.4×) |
| 2012 | 9,060 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (11×) |
| 2013 | 10,370 | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (20×) |
| 2014 | 12,973 | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (17×) |
| 2015 | 22,196 | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (17×) |
| 2016 | 19,584 | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (19×) |
| 2017 | 12,484 | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (20×) |
| 2018 | 11,663 | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (13×) |
| 2019 | 10,124 | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (9.3×) |
| 2020 | 10,196 | Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (5×) |
| 2021 | 426 | Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (5.7×) |
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 Vivaro?
In 183,520 UK MOT tests of the Vauxhall Vivaro in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is track rod end (ball joint has excessive play): recorded on 4% of tests of 2016–2018 cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km), 20× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: linkage ball joints (ball joint excessively worn) (14×); linkage ball joints (ball joint has slight play) (14×); track rod end (ball joint has slight play) (11×). The most common reasons a Vauxhall Vivaro fails its MOT are track rod end (ball joint has excessive play); position lamp (not working); ball joint (ball joint excessively worn).
Why do Vauxhall Vivaros fail the MOT?
Across 183,520 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Vauxhall Vivaro were track rod end (ball joint has excessive play) (11% of tests); position lamp (not working) (9.4% of tests); ball joint (ball joint excessively worn) (9.7% of tests).
At what mileage do Vauxhall Vivaro problems start?
The clearest Vauxhall Vivaro-specific issue, track rod end (ball joint has excessive play), peaks against other cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) on 2016–2018 cars (4% of tests vs 0.2% for all cars that age).
Where does this Vauxhall Vivaro data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 183,520 tests of the Vauxhall Vivaro. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.