2012 · 12 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2012 Vauxhall Meriva MOT pass rate and common faults

8,813 MOT tests in 2024. 67.4% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

105Above average
Passed first time67.4%
Failed or needed repairs32.6%
Typical mileage at test74,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 8,813 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken7.7%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.6%
    277 marked dangerous
  3. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.3%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.3%
    288 marked dangerous
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.1%
    250 marked dangerous
  6. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.0%
  7. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.6%
  8. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.4%
  9. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.3%
  10. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn1.2%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension14.9%
  2. Lights & electrics11.6%
  3. Brakes8.6%
  4. Tyres8.1%
  5. Emissions & leaks5.3%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.5%
  7. Body & chassis2.7%
  8. Steering1.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.5%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine18.2%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure12.7%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened11.0%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.0%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Vauxhall Meriva?

In 2024, 67.4% of 2012 Vauxhall Meriva cars passed their MOT first time, across 8,813 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Vauxhall Meriva?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2012 Vauxhall Meriva reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 105, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).