The picture
Young mileage, older-than-expected suspension faults
76.75% first-time pass from 72,204 tests is reasonable, and the Adam's average test mileage of 46,676 makes it one of the lower-mileage cars in this batch. Despite that, steering rack gaiter deterioration, shock absorber failure, and fractured springs all feature in the top three failures — suspension wear that typically shows up later in a car's life. Owner records are thin but pointed: water in oil on a 1.2 70PS at just 22,000 miles destroyed the engine, and the 2014 model suffered comprehensive comms, radio and Bluetooth failures from one year old, persisting repeatedly. A sunroof recall from 2014 was slow to be actioned, with some owners still waiting months after the initial letter. At under 47,000 miles the MOT pass rate should be higher; the suspension pattern and electrical history suggest the Adam hasn't always been straightforward to own.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
6,640 occurrences · 9.2% of tests
- 02
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
3,191 occurrences · 4.4% of tests
- 03
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
2,912 occurrences · 4.0% of tests
- 04
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
2,259 occurrences · 3.1% of tests
- 05
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
1,543 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 06
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
1,472 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 07
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
1,084 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 08
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
999 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 09
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
993 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 10
Wiper blade defective
879 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 4 failures
£300–£815
If every one of this Adam's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Owner reports · Honest John
What owners actually report.
Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.
Recent owner-reported faults
- 5 Dec 2018
Report of engine failure of 2014 Vauxhall Adam at 22,000 miles due to water in oil. Engine was 1.2 70PS. Google Pixel 10 Pro 128GB In Moonstone | Verizon (With 36 Monthly Installment Payments + Plan)Meet the new status pro. Pixel 10 Pro is the ultimate Pixel experience, featuring advanced AI with Gemini, unbelievable camera quality, i...Verizon Wireless Ask a Pro: "I'm 65 With $1.1M Saved. What's My Retirement Budget?"This quiz matches nearly 50,000 people each month with vetted financial advisors.SmartAsset Learn More Top 5 Mouse Repellents for 2026 Expert Product Review Learn More Why AI Brings Speech Clarity That Old Hearing Aids Just Can’t Match Understand speech in noise effortlessly AudioNova How US Navy Submarine Cooks Keep Their Produce Fresh For 5x Longer Consumer Check [![Image 28: Missed the April 15 Tax Deadline? The IRS Still Offers Debt Forgiveness [See How to Qualify]](https://images.outbrainimg.com/transform/v3/eyJpdSI6ImM5NTFiY2UwOTE0MjYyMDllNjFjNDJkNzFhYWY4NmU2YzNkNjFiODFlY2Y2MjEyZWEzNjViZDFjMmFhZGFkMDIiLCJ3Ijo0MDAsImgiOjMwMCwiZCI6MS4wLCJjcyI6MCwiZiI6NH0.webp)Missed the April 15 Tax Deadline? The IRS Still Offers Debt Forgiveness [See How to Qualify]freshstartinfo.org](https://freshstartinfo.org/tax-relief-options/?utm_source=outbrain&utm_medium=programmatic&utm_campaign=Small+List+-+Desktop&utm_content=0005311d13aa384a2cc0f2ef7ff74efc5b&camp_id=003198e0e9831633063a4568517e615f4e&creative_id=0005311d13aa384a2cc0f2ef7ff74efc5b&brand=FSI&source=OUT&adset_id={{section_id}}&obcid=0096ea30c26a360a1fc372308e87d6d6d7&obOrigUrl=true) Sponsored What Plumbers Won’t Tell You: The Cheap Hack for Clear Drains Trending Deal Journal [![Image 30: Find Senior Women Who Bring The Spark [See Who's Online]](https://images.outbrainimg.com/transform/v3/eyJpdSI6ImVmM2Q2MDM2Y2E3NGRmOGRhZWUwMDAwNzkwMDk4YWIzMGI5MWRlNDhlZDdmMjRjMTY5NDRhMmY5YTg0ZDQ0MTciLCJ3Ijo0MDAsImgiOjMwMCwiZCI6MS4wLCJjaCI6MTAyMzExNjc1NSwiY3MiOjAsImYiOjR9.webp)Sponsored Find Senior Women Who Bring The Spark [See Who's Online] Read more It all starts with a message.delightydate.com](https://delightydate.com/land/sp/08db1326?utm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=ua&utm_campaign=OBN_Delightydate_Tier1-1_All_Native_EU2_NewU_Broad_aOBX25_Chrome-Safari-Edge_Creo-t_mua_23Apr&campaign_id=006d20fa452139f5ad59227a3ca380838d&utm_content=Find+Senior+Women+Who+Bring+The+Spark+%5BSee+Who%27s+Online%5D&partner=outbrain_datingsmatch&OutbrainClickId={{ob_click_id}}&subid={{ob_click_id}}&ad_id=00c5619c08afaed3e07f0ab60e40906d29&publisher_name={{publisher_name}}§ion_name={{section_name}}&publisher_id={{publisher_id}}&ad_name={{ad_name}}&obOrigUrl=true) Sponsored Sleep Experts: Why Melatonin Can Make Your Sleep Problems Worse!Health Report Sponsored Has Hyundai hit the mark with the new Palisade? Take a look!caffeinecommons.com Click Here Sponsored Top 5 Binoculars for 2026 Expert Product Review Learn More * Terms and Conditions * Privacy * Cookies * Advertise on this site * Contact * Mobile) Website of the Year 2016, 2017 & 2018
- 10 Aug 2017
Report that 'Insecure Sunroof' recall seems to have gone awray. Reader has an Adam Glam bought new in March 2014 and received the recall letter in April saying there was a recall and they would contact him in early may. He phoned mid June as nothing heard and was told to book in and take car to Vauxhall dealer for repair. Car booked in with dealer from whom he bought car for 3rd July. Meanwhile received a 2nd letter from Vauxhall to say repair would only be an interim measure as they were working on the final conclusion. Turned up at garage on 3 July to be told Vauxhall hadn't supplied the parts so no repair done.
- 2 Nov 2016
Report of significant comms, radio, Bluetooth and other electronic failures on September 2014 Vauxhall Adam 1.4i Jam from September 2015 and repeatedly since. Amost reads as if the car has suffered significant flood damage that has sent the electrics haywire.
Source: honestjohn.co.uk · 3 reports indexed
Buying or keeping a Adam?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Adam and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.