Vauxhall Viva Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Vauxhall Viva 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 57,682 MOT tests across 5 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: city car | Fuel: Petrol
88%
Vauxhall Viva pass rate
84%
Vauxhall average
82%
All-model average
The Vauxhall Viva has an average MOT pass rate of 88%, which is 4 points above the Vauxhall average and 6 points above the average across all models in our data. Newer Vauxhall Vivas 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 Viva Fails Its MOT On
Of the 8,156 MOT tests on the Vauxhall Viva 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.
Tyres
46%Cars and vans the same age: 27% (the Viva fails on this more often) · Typical repair £50-£300
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
24%Cars and vans the same age: 15% (the Viva fails on this more often) · Typical repair £10-£350
Suspension
22%Cars and vans the same age: 27% · Typical repair £150-£600
Lights and electrics
17%Cars and vans the same age: 29% (the Viva fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
11%Cars and vans the same age: 20% (the Viva fails on this less often) · Typical repair £80-£450
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative (29% of failed tests, tyres)
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively (15% of failed tests, windscreen, wipers and mirrors)
- Steering linkage ball joint dust cover no longer keeps dirt out (7.7% 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 Viva 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 Viva 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
No year passed 3 or more points less often than other cars of the same age.
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 Viva 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.
Vauxhall Viva Running Costs
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Vauxhall Viva FAQ
What are the most common Vauxhall Viva problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Vauxhall Viva that failed at the first attempt most often failed on tyres (46% of the 8,156 failed tests), windscreen, wipers and mirrors (24%) and suspension (22%). The single most common fault was "Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative" (29%). Across 57,682 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 88% ended in a pass.
Is the Vauxhall Viva reliable?
The Vauxhall Viva has an average MOT pass rate of 88%, from 57,682 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 within 1 point of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Vauxhall Viva years should I avoid?
No Vauxhall Viva year with 1,000+ tests passed 3 or more points less often than all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). 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 Viva faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Vauxhall Viva 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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Other Vauxhall Models
Common problems pages for other Vauxhall models