Model Reports 8 min read Updated 12 Jul 2026

Vauxhall Combo 2007: reliability & common MOT faults

Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2007 Vauxhall Combo include Rigid brake pipes (~3.5× peers) and Emissions not tested (~3.2× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (1,699 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.

1,699 failed first-attempt tests · 3,248 first tests (test year 2025)

Standout pattern: Rigid brake pipes — about 3.5× more often than on similar peer cars.

Key takeaways before you buy

  • Rigid brake pipes: about 3.5× more often than similar cars
  • Emissions not tested: about 3.2× more often than similar cars
  • Rigid brake pipes (rear): about 3.0× more often than similar cars

Common faults

These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).

Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.

Based on 1,699 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.

Rigid brake pipes

This failure pattern appears about 3.5× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 40 failed first-attempt tests; 2.4% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 40 failures · ×3.5 vs similar cars · 2.4% of failed first tests · Likely common fault pattern

Emissions not tested

This failure pattern appears about 3.2× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 38 failed first-attempt tests; 2.2% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 38 failures · ×3.2 vs similar cars · 2.2% of failed first tests · Likely common fault pattern

No patterns met the strongest callout thresholds on this page; showing the highest-lift rows that still cleared the display floors.

# Fault pattern Location Failures vs similar cars Share of fails Confidence
1 Rigid brake pipes
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
 Any 40 ×3.5 2.4% Likely common fault pattern
2 Emissions not tested
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Compression ignition > Emissions not tested
 Any 38 ×3.2 2.2% Likely common fault pattern
3 Rigid brake pipes (rear)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
 Rear 142 ×3.0 8.4% Likely common fault pattern
4 Malfunction indicator lamp
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Compression ignition > Malfunction indicator lamp
 Any 59 ×2.6 3.5% Possible elevated fault
5 Exhaust system (rear)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
 Rear 87 ×2.5 5.1% Possible elevated fault
6 Exhaust system (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
 Front 41 ×2.4 2.4% Possible elevated fault
7 Track rod end
Steering > Steering linkage components > Track rod end
 Any 68 ×2.3 4.0% Possible elevated fault
8 Parking brake performance
Brakes > Brake performance > Parking brake performance > Rbt > Parking brake performance
 Any 54 ×2.3 3.2% Possible elevated fault
9 Shock absorbers (front)
Suspension > Shock absorbers
 Front 91 ×2.2 5.4% Possible elevated fault
10 Electrical equipment — Horn
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Electrical equipment > Horn
 Any 53 ×2.0 3.1% Possible elevated fault

Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).

Advisories

Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.

# Advisory pattern Location Notes vs similar cars Share Confidence
1 Steering rack
Steering > Steering play > Steering rack
 Any 41 ×6.6 2.4% Possible elevated fault
2 Swivel pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Axles > Swivel pins and bushes
 Rear 78 ×3.8 4.6% Elevated vs peers
3 Shock absorbers (front)
Suspension > Shock absorbers
 Front 258 ×3.7 15.2% Possible elevated fault
4 Rigid brake pipes (rear)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
 Rear 425 ×3.4 25.0% Likely common fault pattern
5 Non-component advisories
Non-component advisories
 Any 236 ×2.5 13.9% Elevated vs peers
6 Pedal
Brakes > Service brake pedal or hand lever > Pedal
 Any 23 ×2.5 1.4% Elevated vs peers
7 Rigid brake pipes
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
 Any 106 ×2.4 6.2% Likely common fault pattern
8 Exhaust system (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
 Front 69 ×2.3 4.1% Possible elevated fault

FAQs

We do not show a single reliability score for the 2007 Vauxhall Combo on this page. Among 1,699 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Rigid brake pipes appears more often than on similar peer cars (about 3.5× more often than peers; 40 observed failures; 2.4% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.
Among failed first-attempt tests we surface patterns that appear more often than on similar peer cars. Top example: Rigid brake pipes (about 3.5× more often than peers; 40 observed failures; 2.4% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Rigid brake pipes shows up more often than on similar peer cars (about 3.5× more often than peers; 40 observed failures; 2.4% of failed tests). That does not prove a causal design fault — age, mileage, and usage still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer TSB.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2007 Vauxhall Combo include Rigid brake pipes, Emissions not tested, Rigid brake pipes (rear). These are elevated versus similar peer cars where lift clears our floors — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.
Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that look elevated versus peers among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.
This page highlights elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2007 Vauxhall Combo (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are ranked against similar age and mileage peers. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer TSB list.
No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.
PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

About this data

Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.

PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).

Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.

Limitations.

  • MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
  • Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
  • Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
  • Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.

Display rules config: 1

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Most reliable Vauxhall models

See brand-wide MOT rankings and year guidance for Vauxhall (separate from this model-year report).