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Common Vauxhall Adam Problems, Faults, and Repair Costs

Every known Vauxhall Adam MOT issue, ranked by how common it is and what it costs to fix. Based on 117,355 real MOT tests across 8 model years.

Segment: small family car | Fuel: Petrol

81%

Vauxhall Adam pass rate

84%

Vauxhall average

82%

National average

The Vauxhall Adam has an average MOT pass rate of 81%, which is 3 points below the Vauxhall average and 1 points below the national average. Newer VAUXHALL ADAMs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 5 percentage points.

Check Your Vauxhall Adam's MOT History

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Most Common Vauxhall Adam MOT Issues

Ranked by how likely they are to affect your Vauxhall Adam, with typical repair costs

Brakes

High likelihood

£80 - £450

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Brake discs worn, brake pads thin, handbrake adjustment needed

Failure points:

Brake disc excessively worn, brake pipe corroded, brake efficiency below minimum

Suspension

High likelihood

£150 - £600

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Suspension arm bush worn, shock absorber misting, spring corroded

Failure points:

Coil spring broken, ball joint excessive play, shock absorber leaking

Lights

High likelihood

£15 - £200

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Headlamp aim slightly out, lens deteriorated

Failure points:

Headlamp not working, brake light not functioning, indicator failure

Exhaust & Emissions

High likelihood

£80 - £800

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Exhaust mounting corroded, slight exhaust leak

Failure points:

Exhaust emissions exceed limits, catalytic converter efficiency low, DPF warning

Steering

High likelihood

£100 - £500

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Track rod end has slight play, steering rack boot deteriorated

Failure points:

Steering rack leaking, track rod ball joint worn beyond limits

Tyres

Moderate likelihood

£50 - £300

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Tyre approaching legal limit, slight damage to sidewall

Failure points:

Tyre below minimum tread depth, tyre has a cut exposing ply

Body & Structure

Moderate likelihood

£200 - £1200

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Surface corrosion on subframe, slight body panel damage

Failure points:

Structural corrosion, body mounting corroded through, chassis weakness

Windscreen & Wipers

Lower likelihood

£10 - £350

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Minor windscreen chip, wiper blade deteriorated

Failure points:

Windscreen crack in swept area, wiper does not clear windscreen

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Vauxhall Adam Reliability by Year

MOT pass rate for each model year, based on real test data

2012
82%
2013
78%
Worst year
2014
79%
2015
80%
2016
80%
2017
83%
2018
86%
2019
89%
Best year
YearFuelEnginePass RateFail Rate
2019Petrol1.4L89%11%
2018Petrol1.4L86%14%
2017Petrol1.4L83%17%
2016Petrol1.4L80%19%
2015Petrol1.2L80%19%
2014Petrol1.2L79%21%
2013Petrol1.4L78%21%
2012Petrol1.4L82%18%

Most Reliable Year

2019

89% pass rate from 8,953 tests

View 2019 Vauxhall Adam details

Least Reliable Year

2013

78% pass rate from 15,948 tests

View 2013 Vauxhall Adam details

Vauxhall Adam Running Costs

Want to know the full annual running costs for the Vauxhall Adam? Including fuel, tax, insurance, and predicted repairs based on MOT history.

View Vauxhall Adam Running Costs

Vauxhall Adam FAQ

What are the most common Vauxhall Adam problems?

The most common Vauxhall Adam MOT problems are brakes, suspension, lights, exhaust & emissions, steering issues. These are the areas most likely to cause advisories or failures during an MOT test, based on 117,355 real tests.

Is the Vauxhall Adam reliable?

The Vauxhall Adam has an average MOT pass rate of 81%, which is 1 points below the national average of 82%. This is considered good reliability.

Which year Vauxhall Adam is most reliable?

The 2019 Vauxhall Adam is the most reliable year with a 89% MOT pass rate. Avoid the 2013 model year if reliability is your priority, as it has the lowest pass rate at 78%.

How much does it cost to fix common Vauxhall Adam faults?

Repair costs vary by issue. Brake work on a Vauxhall Adam typically costs £80-£450, suspension repairs cost £150-£600, and exhaust/emissions fixes cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.

Check a Specific Vauxhall Adam

Enter any reg plate to see the exact MOT history, defects found, health score, and running cost estimate for that specific car.

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Free instant check using official DVSA and DVLA data

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