Model Reports 5 min read Updated 18 Oct 2026

Vauxhall Vivaro 2012: reliability & common MOT faults

In 2025, 45 in every 100 first MOTs on a 2012 Vauxhall Vivaro were passes. Most common reason for a fail: Suspension arm ball joint (front).

Summary

A 2012 Vauxhall Vivaro passed first time about 2 in every 100 less often than the average of the 2011 and 2013 model years.

At a glance

How 7,619 first tests went in 2025.

Passed first time
45 in every 100
Did not pass first time
55 in every 1004,182 failed first-attempt tests
The typical car
13 yearsabout 138,910 miles
First tests counted
7,619

What failed most often

  1. Suspension arm ball joint (front)19 in every 100 failed tests
  2. Track rod end (front)17 in every 100 failed tests
  3. Individual sidelight or tail light (front)17 in every 100 failed tests

How we count this. Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Only Class 4 cars on their first MOT of the year are counted. A car that fails and is fixed at the test station still counts as a fail in the first-attempt rate. These are raw results, not adjusted for age, mileage, or peer mix. The MOT does not test engine or gearbox internals.

Note:

These are patterns across 2012 Vauxhall Vivaro vehicles in 2025, not a prediction that any one car will have them. Faults are grouped by part of the car. They come from MOT defect codes, not manufacturer bulletins, recalls or a diagnosis of any one car.

Lamps and electrical

One fault: hazard warning switch, 27 times as often as on similar cars.

Figures below are measured across the 4,157 of 4,182 failed first attempts (99.4%) that recorded an odometer reading in 2025. Mileage is needed to compare like with like.

We only list faults with at least 20 failures and a rate of about 2.0 times that of similar cars, which keeps one-off results out of the list.

Hazard warning switch

Failed on 203 first tests27 times as often as similar carsStrong evidence

What it means

A hazard warning switch that is inoperative is Major, while one that is faulty or insecure is Minor. The lamps must work from one switch only, with the engine or ignition switch both on and off.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.

Suspension

Six faults. The strongest is the macpherson strut pins and bushes (front): 14 times as often as on similar cars.

Macpherson strut pins and bushes (front)

Failed on 109 first tests14 times as often as similar carsStrong evidence

What it means

A suspension pin or bush that is excessively worn is graded Major. One likely to become detached is graded Dangerous. DVSA uses its general suspension pin, bush or joint wording here, not anything specific to a strut.

Also noted as an advisory

Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 110 first tests, 4.9 times as often as on similar cars.

Macpherson strut (front)

Failed on 157 first tests9.0 times as often as similar carsStrong evidence

What it means

Many MacPherson strut top bushes are designed to have significant lateral play when the suspension hangs free, so a top bush is rejected only when the play comes from wear or maladjustment. A top bush or bearing with excessive wear or free play is Major. Rubber or synthetic bushes are rejected only for serious deterioration of the bonding or flexible material.

Anti-roll bar pins and bushes (front)

Failed on 85 first tests7.8 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

What it means

An anti-roll bar pin or bush that is excessively worn is Major, and one likely to become detached is graded Dangerous. The wording is DVSA's general rule for a suspension pin, bush or joint.

Also noted as an advisory

Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 136 first tests, 8.4 times as often as on similar cars.

Wheel bearings (front)

Failed on 153 first tests2.7 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

Excessive play in a wheel bearing, or a bearing that is excessively rough, is Major. Play so excessive that the bearing is likely to break up or directional control is impaired is Dangerous, and so is a bearing so rough that it is likely to overheat or break up.

Suspension arm ball joint (front)

Failed on 793 first tests2.7 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

A suspension arm ball joint is failed under the general suspension pin, bush or joint wording. Excessively worn is Major, and likely to become detached is graded Dangerous.

Suspension arm pins and bushes (rear)

Failed on 116 first tests2.6 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

Pins and bushes on suspension arms fail as Major when they are excessively worn. They are graded Dangerous when likely to become detached. DVSA uses the same wording for a suspension joint.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage. Advisories count notes recorded on failed first tests only.

Brakes

Two faults. The strongest is the rigid brake pipes (rear): 5.5 times as often as on similar cars.

Rigid brake pipes (rear)

Failed on 302 first tests5.5 times as often as similar carsStrong evidence

What it means

Chafing, corrosion or damage to a rigid brake pipe justifies rejection once its wall thickness is reduced by a set amount, although DVSA accepts this is not easy to determine. If a tester is not sure, the benefit of the doubt applies. A leaking pipe or connection is graded Dangerous on a hydraulic system and Major on an air system.

Also noted as an advisory

Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 534 first tests, 3.4 times as often as on similar cars.

Rigid brake pipes (front)

Failed on 132 first tests4.1 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

What it means

Chafing, corrosion or damage to a rigid brake pipe justifies rejection once its wall thickness is reduced by a set amount, although DVSA accepts this is not easy to determine. If a tester is not sure, the benefit of the doubt applies. A leaking pipe or connection is graded Dangerous on a hydraulic system and Major on an air system.

Also noted as an advisory

Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 328 first tests, 3.1 times as often as on similar cars.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage. Advisories count notes recorded on failed first tests only.

Steering

One fault: track rod end (front), 3.3 times as often as on similar cars.

Track rod end (front)

Failed on 713 first tests3.3 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

What it means

A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play is Major, and one worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment is graded Dangerous. A dust cover that is damaged but still keeps dirt out is Minor, and one missing or no longer keeping dirt out is Major. Testers must tell wear from a joint's built-in clearance or spring loading.

Also noted as an advisory

Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 155 first tests, 2.1 times as often as on similar cars.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage. Advisories count notes recorded on failed first tests only.

Advisories

Other things testers noted as worn or close to failing, more often than on similar cars.

An advisory is a note from the tester about something that has not failed yet. It is an early warning, not a fail. Advisories for the faults above are shown with those faults.

Suspension sub-frame pins and bushes (front)

Noted on 103 first tests16 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

Chassis condition (front)

Noted on 51 first tests8.7 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

Suspension mounting area (front)

Noted on 44 first tests7.5 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

Vehicle structure condition (front)

Noted on 43 first tests6.0 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

Other power steering components

Noted on 27 first tests5.0 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Brake light (rear)

Noted on 135 first tests4.9 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Counts cover advisories recorded on failed first tests only, compared with cars of the same age and mileage.

MOT pass rates

How first tests ended, and how the pass rates are counted.

Passed first time
45in every 100
Passed on the first test.
Fixed at the station
8in every 100
Failed, then fixed at the test station the same day.
Failed
47in every 100
Did not pass, and were not fixed at the test station.

First-attempt pass 45.1% of 7,619 first tests (2025): only cars that passed first time count. Official-style pass 53.3%: cars fixed at the test station also count as a pass. The 8 fixed and the 47 not fixed make the 55 in every 100 that did not pass first time.

Same model, other years

Passed first time in every 100, all tested in 2025.

4060801002005201220152020Older carsNewer cars
40608010020122020Older carsNewer cars

Newer cars are younger, so look for a jump rather than the climb.

YearPassed first timeFirst tests
200245 in every 100575
200349 in every 1001,502
200449 in every 1003,016
200547 in every 1004,422
200646 in every 1005,531
200747 in every 1006,600
200847 in every 1006,650
200945 in every 1003,306
201044 in every 1005,520
201146 in every 1009,118
2012 This car45 in every 1007,619
201348 in every 1009,127
201451 in every 10011,595
201556 in every 10020,260
201660 in every 10017,638
201761 in every 10011,448
201865 in every 10010,688
201972 in every 1009,709
202075 in every 1009,356
202172 in every 10010,801
202273 in every 1008,667

If you are buying one

What this year's MOT record means for the decision in front of you.

Mileage makes a modest difference on a 2012 Vivaro.

Of 2012 Vivaro vehicles with under 101,000 miles, 51 in every 100 passed their 2025 MOT first time. With 182,000 miles or more, 45 in every 100 did.

Under 101,0001,512 tests
51
101,000–127,0001,494 tests
43
127,000–152,000 Typical car1,552 tests
43
152,000–182,0001,508 tests
44
182,000 and over1,511 tests
45

What to check at your mileage

How often each fault turned up on a failed first test, by the car's mileage. Read it as: what is likely to need looking at on a car like the one in front of you.

Under 101,000127,000–152,000182,000 and over
Suspension arm ball joint (front)7.412.111.8
Track rod end (front)8.311.08.7
Individual sidelight or tail light (front)8.28.710.4
Handbrake efficiency below minimum (roller test)4.78.410.7
Drive shaft joints and boots (front)8.27.26.3

Faults per 100 first tests, by the car's mileage at the test.

When a car fails

15in every 100

of failed cars had one item to fix.

65in every 100

of failed cars had three or more items to fix.

14in every 100

of all first tests had a defect the tester marked dangerous (unsafe to drive away).

Every figure here is a first-attempt MOT rate from DVSA open data for this model line, for cars of this model year tested in 2025. Each mileage band holds a fifth of the tests. MOTs do not test engine or gearbox internals, so this is a pre-purchase checklist, not a full reliability score.

FAQs

Short answers about how to read this model-year guide.

A 2012 Vauxhall Vivaro passed first time about 2 in every 100 less often than the average of the 2011 and 2013 model years. In 2025, 45.1% of 7,619 first MOTs on the 2012 Vauxhall Vivaro passed first time (PRS: items fixed at the station the same day, counted as a fail). The official-style rate including PRS is 53.3%. Among 4,182 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Hazard warning switch appears more often than on similar cars (4.9% of those tests; 203 observed failures; about 27× more often than similar cars). There is no single reliability score here; this is a pre-purchase checklist built from DVSA open data, not a guarantee for any individual car.
Ranked by how often they were actually recorded, the items that most often failed a 2012 Vauxhall Vivaro at the first attempt were Suspension arm ball joint (front) (19.1%), Track rod end (front) (17.2%) and Individual sidelight or tail light (front) (16.7%), each as a share of the year's failed first attempts. That is what goes wrong most often on the car. The common faults table shows a different measure: faults that are unusual compared with similar cars.
Among failed first-attempt tests we highlight patterns that appear more often than on similar cars. Top example: Hazard warning switch (4.9% of those tests; 203 observed failures; about 27× more often than similar cars). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Hazard warning switch shows up more often than on similar cars (4.9% of those tests; 203 observed failures; about 27× more often than similar cars). That does not prove a design fault. Age, mileage, and how the car was used still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase checkpoint, not a manufacturer service bulletin.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2012 Vauxhall Vivaro include Hazard warning switch, Macpherson strut pins and bushes (front), Macpherson strut (front). These are the faults that stand out compared with similar cars, not a complete list of what can go wrong on any individual car.
Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that appear more often than on similar cars 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 MOT failure patterns for the 2012 Vauxhall Vivaro (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are compared with cars of a similar age and mileage. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics, not a full service history or manufacturer service-bulletin 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.

About this data

How this page is built and what it can (and can't) say.

These figures come from UK MOT open data for this model year. We surface common failure patterns against similar cars, not a full reliability score, and not a pass/fail verdict on any individual vehicle.

2024 2025

What we include

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

Same-day repairs

PRS means the car 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.

How we compare

We compare this model year with other Class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year. This model family is left out of the peer group so the car is not measured against itself.

What this does not cover

  • MOTs do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronics; this is not a full reliability score.
  • Common faults come from MOT defect stats, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
  • Age and mileage matching reduces, but does not remove, differences in how cars were used and maintained.
  • If the data for a car is too thin to say anything useful, we say so rather than guess.

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

Check any vehicle’s MOT history

Full MOT history, mileage records, and reliability insights for any UK vehicle.

Run a free check