CarCostCheck

Vauxhall Antara Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid

What the Vauxhall Antara fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 41,767 MOT tests across 10 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).

Segment: family car | Fuel: Diesel, Petrol

74%

Vauxhall Antara pass rate

84%

Vauxhall average

82%

All-model average

The Vauxhall Antara has an average MOT pass rate of 74%, which is 10 points below the Vauxhall average and 8 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Vauxhall Antaras pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 5 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.

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What the Vauxhall Antara Fails Its MOT On

Of the 8,613 MOT tests on the Vauxhall Antara that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.

Lights and electrics

59%

Cars and vans the same age: 40% (the Antara fails on this more often) · Typical repair £15-£200

Suspension

37%

Cars and vans the same age: 37% · Typical repair £150-£600

Brakes

26%

Cars and vans the same age: 22% · Typical repair £80-£450

Tyres

17%

Cars and vans the same age: 21% · Typical repair £50-£300

Exhaust, emissions and leaks

16%

Cars and vans the same age: 11% (the Antara fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£800

The 3 single faults it failed on most

  1. Position lamp: not working (21% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
  2. Stop lamp: not working (18% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
  3. Coil spring: fractured or broken (13% of failed tests, suspension)

Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.

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Vauxhall Antara Years to Avoid

Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Antara year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.

Failed more often than cars their age

  • 2016: 77% passed, against 86% for all 2016 cars (9 points lower, 1,678 tests)
  • 2012: 72% passed, against 79% for all 2012 cars (7 points lower, 11,761 tests)
  • 2015: 77% passed, against 84% for all 2015 cars (7 points lower, 4,056 tests)

Passed more often than cars their age

No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same age.

A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.

Vauxhall Antara Reliability by Year

MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.

2007
70%
2008
67%
Lowest
2009
70%
2010
70%
2011
72%
2012
72%
2013
74%
2014
76%
2015
77%
Highest
2016
77%
Highest
YearFuelEnginePass RateFail RateAll Cars
2016Diesel2.2L77%23%86% (-9)
2015Diesel2.2L77%23%84% (-7)
2014Petrol2.4L76%23%82% (-6)
2013Petrol2.4L74%25%80% (-6)
2012Petrol2.4L72%27%79% (-7)
2011Petrol2.4L72%28%77% (-5)
2010Diesel2.0L70%30%-
2009Diesel2.0L70%29%75% (-5)
2008Diesel2.0L67%32%74% (-7)
2007Diesel2.0L70%29%-

Vauxhall Antara Running Costs

Want to know the full annual running costs for the Vauxhall Antara? Including fuel, road tax, the MOT and predicted repairs based on MOT pass rates, plus an estimated insurance group.

View Vauxhall Antara Running Costs

Vauxhall Antara FAQ

What are the most common Vauxhall Antara problems?

In 2025, MOT tests on the Vauxhall Antara that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (59% of the 8,613 failed tests), suspension (37%) and brakes (26%). The single most common fault was "Position lamp: not working" (21%). Across 41,767 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 74% ended in a pass.

Is the Vauxhall Antara reliable?

The Vauxhall Antara has an average MOT pass rate of 74%, from 41,767 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 6 points less often on average, so check the history of any example carefully.

Which Vauxhall Antara years should I avoid?

Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2016 (77% of 1,678 tests passed, against 86% for all 2016 cars), the 2012 (72% of 11,761 tests passed, against 79% for all 2012 cars) and the 2015 (77% of 4,056 tests passed, against 84% for all 2015 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.

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

As a rough guide, brake work on a Vauxhall Antara typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.

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