How reliable is the Vauxhall Nova compared with other cars?

We do not publish a comparison for the Vauxhall Nova, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 82.6% across 837 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.

What do testers most often warn about on a Vauxhall Nova?

The most common advisory is "Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users", noted on 7.5% of all Vauxhall Nova tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a Vauxhall Nova usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 51,949 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Are most Vauxhall Nova models petrol or diesel?

Of the Vauxhall Nova cars tested, 99% are petrol, 1% are diesel. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

Model reliability file

Vauxhall Nova MOT pass rate & common failures

From 837 recorded MOT tests of the Vauxhall Nova, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

Across 837 MOT tests, 82.6% of Vauxhall Nova tests ended in a pass. This figure is not adjusted for age or mileage, so it is not a reliability ranking: the Vauxhall Nova fleet does not yet cover a wide enough spread of ages and distances to compare it fairly against other models. Its most commonly recorded failure is brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle, which appears in 18.8% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 51,949 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

82.6%unadjusted, not comparable837 tests

We are not publishing a ranking for the Nova. The examples tested do not cover a wide enough spread of ages and mileages to compare it fairly, and an unadjusted pass rate mostly sorts models by how recently they were bought rather than how well they were built. The failure and advisory patterns below come from the same 837 tests and are worth reading on their own terms.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Vauxhall Nova tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle18.8%
22 occurrencesBrake binding or imbalanced across an axle explained
2.The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired17.9%
21 occurrencesSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained
3.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc17.1%
20 occurrencesDriveshaft CV joint gaiter split or missing explained
4.Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced14.5%
17 occurrencesCorrosion in a structural area explained
5.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning11.1%
13 occurrencesLamp not working explained
6.Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced11.1%
13 occurrencesCorrosion in a structural area explained
7.Emissions levels exceed default limits11.1%
13 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained
8.Service brake efficiency below minimum requirement9.4%
11 occurrencesBraking efficiency below requirement explained
9.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements8.5%
10 occurrencesHeadlamp aim incorrect explained
10.Audible warning inoperative8.5%
10 occurrencesHorn not working, or of the wrong type explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Vauxhall Nova tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users7.5%
63 tests
2.A wheel bearing with excessive play6.8%
57 testsWheel bearing has excessive play or is rough explained
3.A tyre seriously damaged5.4%
45 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
4.A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched4.3%
36 testsBrake hose deteriorated, damaged or chafing explained
5.Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded4.1%
34 testsBrake pipe corroded explained
6.The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired3.8%
32 testsSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained
7.Exhaust system leaking or insecure3.3%
28 testsExhaust leaking or insecure explained
8.Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced3.1%
26 testsCorrosion in a structural area explained

The rest of the record

Everything else recorded on the Vauxhall Nova

The 18 other defects testers recorded on this model, beyond the most common listed above. Each links to what it means and what it takes to put right.

What gets tested

The Nova fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 51,949
Fuel mix of tested cars: Petrol98.6%
Diesel1.4%

Check a specific Vauxhall Nova

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other Vauxhall models

Vauxhall Corsa — 64.4% adjusted
Vauxhall Astra — 71.0% adjusted
Vauxhall Mokka — 68.6% adjusted
Vauxhall Vivaro — 62.2% adjusted
Vauxhall Insignia — 72.5% adjusted
Vauxhall Zafira — 66.0% adjusted
All Vauxhall models

Common questions

How reliable is the Vauxhall Nova compared with other cars?: We do not publish a comparison for the Vauxhall Nova, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 82.6% across 837 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Vauxhall Nova?: The item recorded most often is "Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle", which appears in 18.8% of failed Vauxhall Nova tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a Vauxhall Nova?: The most common advisory is "Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users", noted on 7.5% of all Vauxhall Nova tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a Vauxhall Nova usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 51,949 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.
Are most Vauxhall Nova models petrol or diesel?: Of the Vauxhall Nova cars tested, 99% are petrol, 1% are diesel. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. No adjusted rate is shown because this model's tested examples do not cover enough of the national age and mileage range for standardisation to mean anything.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.