Vauxhall
Ampera
2,238 MOT tests analysed. lands in the middle of the pack — here's where Amperas pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 0.6 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.
Pass
76.9%
Pass-after-fix
2.6%
Fail
19.9%
Avg miles
95,447
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
This model's production run straddles the January 2006 Euro 4 cutoff. Individual cars vary — check your registration plate on the government's ULEZ checker. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
Ampera: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 1,462 MOT tests, the Ampera returns 76.4% first-time pass — roughly in line with the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a split CV-joint boot. A missing CV-joint boot and the engine warning light staying lit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 90,266, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 22–28
Around the UK fleet average for insurance cost. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
22–28
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
170 occurrences · 7.6% of tests
- 02
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
87 occurrences · 3.9% of tests
- 03
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
85 occurrences · 3.8% of tests
- 04
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
71 occurrences · 3.2% of tests
- 05
A tyre seriously damaged
52 occurrences · 2.3% of tests
- 06
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
50 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
- 07
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
46 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 08
A tyre cords visible or damaged
44 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 09
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
39 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 10
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
26 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.
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Buying or keeping an Ampera?
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 an Ampera 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.