Vauxhall
Calibra
1,393 MOT tests analysed. lands in the middle of the pack — here's where Calibras pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 1.7 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
79.2%
Pass-after-fix
4.1%
Fail
15.1%
Avg miles
110,007
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Petrol cars registered before January 2006 are typically pre-Euro 4 — subject to daily charges in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ. Bristol CAZ does not charge petrol cars. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
Calibra: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 627 MOT tests, the Calibra returns 74.8% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a number-plate lamp out. Lambda coefficient outside the default limits and the strength or continuity of the load bearing round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 108,151, 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 8–26
Below the fleet average — generally reasonable to insure. 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 →
8–26
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
63 occurrences · 4.5% of tests
- 02
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
51 occurrences · 3.7% of tests
- 03
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
29 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 04
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
24 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 05
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
23 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 06
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits
23 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 07
Emissions levels exceed default limits
22 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 08
Exhaust system leaking or insecure
20 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 09
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
20 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 10
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
20 occurrences · 1.4% 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 2 failures
£88–£275
If every one of this Calibra'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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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
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Parts & supplies for this fix
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Summit ADRG-13 Vauxhall Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS
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Summit ADRG-32 Vauxhall Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS
£12.09
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Summit ADRG-43 Vauxhall Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS
£12.09
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Buying or keeping a Calibra?
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 Calibra 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.