2017 Vauxhall Corsa MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 68.4% of Vauxhall Corsas first used in 2017 passed their MOT first time, against 78.2% for all cars first used in 2017. Across 156,506 Corsa first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were suspension, steering and tyres.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Vauxhall Corsas first used in 2017 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
68.4%
of 51,857 first tests; all cars first used in 2017: 78.2%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
156,506
first tests, 2023–2025; 51,857 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
35.3%
of 51,857 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
51,000
middle half: 36,500–68,000 miles; all cars first used in 2017: 60,000

How the 2017 Vauxhall Corsa MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Corsas first used in 2017 against all cars first used in 2017 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Corsa figure was 9.8 points lower.

2017 CorsaAll cars first used in 2017
60%70%80%90%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2017, test year 2021: 85.9%All cars first used in 2017, test year 2022: 83.9%All cars first used in 2017, test year 2023: 81.7%All cars first used in 2017, test year 2024: 79.8%All cars first used in 2017, test year 2025: 78.2%2017 Corsa, test year 2021: 80.6%2017 Corsa, test year 2022: 80.3%2017 Corsa, test year 2023: 77.4%2017 Corsa, test year 2024: 73.8%2017 Corsa, test year 2025: 68.4%78.2%68.4%
View this chart as a table
Test year2017 CorsaAll cars first used 2017Corsa first tests
202180.6%85.9%52,455
202280.3%83.9%52,584
202377.4%81.7%52,485
202473.8%79.8%52,164
202568.4%78.2%51,857

Common 2017 Vauxhall Corsa MOT failures

Share of the 41,931 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Suspension27.7%
Steering22.7%
Tyres22.0%
Brakes21.2%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment19.3%
Visibility16.6%
Noise, emissions and leaks10.6%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems2.7%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Coil spring: fractured or broken18.4%7,717
Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt17.3%7,248
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction9.0%3,783
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively8.4%3,520
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm7.7%3,247

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

Typical repair costs for common MOT failures

Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Corsa in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Coil spring: fractured or brokenCoil spring replacement£248£175–£400

From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.

What to check on a 2017 Vauxhall Corsa before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  2. Steering. Worth feeling for play or knocks in the steering on the test drive, and asking when the tracking was last checked.
  3. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.

Common 2017 Vauxhall Corsa MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2017 Corsas, as a share of all 156,506 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing17.5%27,311
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge14.4%22,578
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened8.1%12,747
Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil7.5%11,755
Brake pads: wearing thin7.0%10,925

Questions about the 2017 Vauxhall Corsa MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2017 Vauxhall Corsa?

In 2025, 68.4% of Corsas first used in 2017 passed their MOT first time, against 78.2% for all cars first used in 2017. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2017 Corsa most often fail its MOT on?

Suspension (in 27.7% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), steering (22.7%) and tyres (22.0%). The single most common item was “Coil spring: fractured or broken” (18.4%).

How often does a 2017 Vauxhall Corsa fail its MOT?

In 2025, 31.6% of first tests on Corsas first used in 2017 did not pass first time: 26.9% failed, and a further 4.8% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 41,931 of 156,506 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2017 Vauxhall Corsa MOT advisories?

“Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (on 17.5% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (14.4%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (8.1%), “Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil” (7.5%) and “Brake pads: wearing thin” (7.0%).

Is a 2017 Vauxhall Corsa reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 80.6% in 2021 to 68.4% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2017

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2017 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2017 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2017 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2017 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics · 2017 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics

How the 2017 Vauxhall Corsa MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2017 Corsa” means a Vauxhall Corsa whose date of first use falls in 2017 (66, 17 and 67 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2017, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Repair prices are typical UK prices for the job from published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026 — not for this model, and not a quote. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.