Model reliability file
Vauxhall Vivaro-E MOT pass rate & common failures
From 1,530 recorded MOT tests of the Vauxhall Vivaro-E, published by DVSA.
Data updated
Quick answer
Across 1,530 MOT tests, 81.7% of Vauxhall Vivaro-E tests ended in a pass. This figure is not adjusted for age or mileage, so it is not a reliability ranking: the Vauxhall Vivaro-E 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 wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, which appears in 40.3% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 28,928 miles on the odometer when tested.
At a glance
Recorded pass rate
We are not publishing a ranking for the Vivaro-E. 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 1,530 tests and are worth reading on their own terms.
Electric car
How the Vivaro-E compares with other electric cars
At 3 to 5 years old the Vauxhall Vivaro-E passes 81.7% of MOT tests, from 1,517 tests in that age band. Petrol and diesel cars of the same age pass 89.9%, so this model sits 8.2 points below that baseline. Among electric cars it ranks 38 of 43.
There is no emissions test for an electric car and the MOT does not check the battery. Electric cars as a group fail slightly more often than same-age petrol cars, almost entirely on tyres and suspension, because they are heavier and deliver full torque instantly.
Every electric car ranked, and what fails · What the MOT tests on an electric car
DVSA recorded wording
Most common failure items
Share of failed Vauxhall Vivaro-E tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.
- 1.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen40.3%
85 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
- 2.A tyre seriously damaged18.5%
39 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
- 3.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements13.3%
28 occurrencesTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
- 4.A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps10.4%
22 occurrencesLamp not working explained
- 5.Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning9.0%
19 occurrencesStop lamp not working explained
- 6.A tyre cords visible or damaged6.2%
13 occurrencesTyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
- 7.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning5.7%
12 occurrencesLamp not working explained
- 8.Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution4.7%
10 occurrencesBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
- 9.Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen4.3%
9 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
- 10.Lamp showing red light to the front, white light to the rear or has heavily reduced light intensity4.3%
9 occurrencesLamp of the wrong colour, position or intensity explained
Warnings without a failure
Most common advisories
Share of all Vauxhall Vivaro-E tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.
- 1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements12.6%
- 2.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured12.2%
- 3.A tyre seriously damaged7.7%
- 4.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm3.8%
- 5.A tyre seriously damaged3.1%
- 6.Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.9%
45 tests
- 7.Nail in tyre2.4%
36 tests
- 8.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements2.3%
The rest of the record
Everything else recorded on the Vauxhall Vivaro-E
The 15 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.
- Driveshaft CV joint gaiter split or missing3.3%
- Seat belt damaged or not working properly2.8%
- Headlamp aim incorrect1.9%
- Braking efficiency below requirement1.9%
- Brake binding or imbalanced across an axle1.4%
- Headlamp not working1.4%
- Suspension arm bush worn1.4%
- Direction indicator not working1.4%
- Shock absorber defective0.9%
- Mirror missing, damaged or insecure0.9%
- Driver's seat insecure or will not adjust0.3%
- Registration plate missing, insecure or illegible0.3%
- Road spring broken or fractured0.1%
- Road wheel damaged, distorted or cracked0.1%
- Power steering fluid leaking or below minimum0.1%
What gets tested
The Vivaro-E fleet
- Average mileage recorded at test
- 28,928
- Fuel mix of tested cars
- Electric100.0%
Across examples of every age, so this is a description of the fleet rather than an annual figure.
Trim names grouped into this model (5)
Recorded exactly as DVSA holds them. Trim-level names are rolled up so one model is not split across a dozen thin pages.
- VIVARO-E 3100 DYNAMIC
- VIVARO-E 3100 ELITE
- VIVARO-E LIFE COMBI
- VIVARO-E LIFE EDITION
- VIVARO-E LIFE ELITE
Check a specific Vauxhall Vivaro-E
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 Vivaro-E compared with other cars?
- We do not publish a comparison for the Vauxhall Vivaro-E, 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 81.7% across 1,530 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 Vivaro-E?
- The item recorded most often is "Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen", which appears in 40.3% of failed Vauxhall Vivaro-E 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 Vivaro-E?
- The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 12.6% of all Vauxhall Vivaro-E tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
- What mileage does a Vauxhall Vivaro-E usually have at its MOT?
- The average odometer reading recorded at test is 28,928 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.
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.
Further reading