77.7%
pass rate across 323,747 tests
71.8% first-time pass rate
60,189 mi median at test
Vauxhall Corsa 2015 vs 2019
The same model, 4 years apart, compared on 479,724 real MOT tests. The raw pass rate mostly measures age; the like-for-like row and the mileage bands show what survives that adjustment.
87.2%
pass rate across 155,977 tests
85.4% first-time pass rate
29,970 mi median at test
The short answer
The 2019 Corsa passes more — but most of it is age
Across 479,724 tests, the 2019 Corsa passes 87.2% of MOTs and the 2015 77.7%. The 2019 cars are 4 years newer and were tested at a median 29,970 miles against 60,189, so part of that gap is simply age and use. Against what their age and mileage predict, the 2019 is −2.3 points and the 2015 −4.4 — a like-for-like gap of +2.1 points. Most of the raw advantage disappears once the two are matched. Typical repair bills are £21–£52 on the 2015 and £16–£41 on the 2019. The older year is the more expensive of the two when it fails. Repairs under £30 account for 18% of the 2015's recorded faults and 61% of the 2019's. The most common failing part is ball joint on the 2015 and wiper blade on the 2019.
- Pass rate: 77.7% vs 87.2%
- Tests: 323,747 vs 155,977
- Like-for-like: −4.4 vs −2.3 pts
- Median mileage: 60,189 vs 29,970 mi
- Typical repair: £21–£52 vs £16–£41
- Cheap fixes: 18% vs 61%
| Measure | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT tests on record | 323,747 | 155,977 |
| Pass rate, all MOTs | 77.7% | 87.2% stronger figure |
| First-time pass rate | 71.8% | 85.4% stronger figure |
| Against the UK average | −4.4 pts | −2.3 pts stronger figure |
| Like-for-like, age and mileage adjusted | −4.4 pts | −2.3 pts stronger figure |
| Average mileage at test | 62,750 mi | 32,861 mi |
| Median mileage at test | 60,189 mi | 29,970 mi |
| Typical repair bill | £21–£52 | £16–£41 stronger figure |
| Repairs under £30 | 18% | 61% stronger figure |
| Most common failing part | Ball Joint | Wiper Blade |
| Variants recorded | 4 | 1 |
| Main fuel | Petrol 94% | Petrol 100% |
A ✓ marks the stronger figure in each row. It compares the two model years, not either one against the national average.
What goes wrong most often
The most common priced failures on each year, as a share of that year's tests. Repair costs are estimates from UK parts data, not quotes.
2015 Corsa
- Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt 10.8% £18–£45
- Coil spring fractured or broken 5.4% £25–£65
- Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of… 5.3% £18–£45
- Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources 2.8% £5–£20
- Malfunction indicator lamp inoperative or indicates a malfunction 1.7% £3–£12
2019 Corsa
- Wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively 3.1% £8–£22
- Coil spring fractured or broken 1.9% £25–£65
- Wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively 1.7% £8–£22
- Wipers blade defective 1.7% £8–£22
- Washers not working 1.0% £5–£15
Does the gap hold at higher mileage?
Pass rate by the mileage recorded at test. If the lead shrinks in the high-mileage bands, part of the headline difference was a younger, lower-mileage sample.
| Mileage | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30,000 mi | 84.6% · 28,002 tests | 89.1% · 78,084 tests |
| 30,000–60,000 mi | 79.5% · 132,786 tests | 85.8% · 66,516 tests |
| 60,000–90,000 mi | 75.6% · 118,121 tests | 82.4% · 9,923 tests |
| 90,000–120,000 mi | 73.6% · 35,688 tests | 81.6% · 1,168 tests |
| 120,000+ mi | 73.8% · 9,058 tests | 77.9% · 271 tests |
What to check before you buy
2015 Vauxhall Corsa
- Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt — 10.8% of tests · £18–£45
- Coil spring fractured or broken — 5.4% of tests · £25–£65
- Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of… — 5.3% of tests · £18–£45
- Check the MOT history for the exact vehicle, not just the model year.
2019 Vauxhall Corsa
- Wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively — 3.1% of tests · £8–£22
- Coil spring fractured or broken — 1.9% of tests · £25–£65
- Wipers blade defective — 1.7% of tests · £8–£22
- Check the MOT history for the exact vehicle, not just the model year.
Compare another pair of years for the Vauxhall Corsa? Pick two years →
Compare a different pair of years? Pick two years of the Vauxhall Corsa →
Or put the Corsa against another model: Compare the Vauxhall Corsa side by side →