Vauxhall Combo reliability by year, 2002 to 2022
280,101 Vauxhall Combos went through an MOT in the period we analysed, and 60.1% passed. Set against the 71.7% national pass rate, that is a weaker result than most on the raw numbers. Compared only with cars tested at the same age, the Combo is 11.7 points behind, so the model itself is well below average, not just old. At its first MOT, at three years old, 73% of Combos pass; the national figure for three-year-old cars is 87.9%. When a Combo does fail, a broken coil spring is the item recorded most often.
What fails a Vauxhall Combo at its MOT
Of every hundred Combos that fail, about 13 are marked down for a broken coil spring and 9 for a number plate light not working. Percentages can add to more than 100 because one failed test often records several defects.
Coil springs fracture on British roads more than anywhere else in Europe, and a fractured spring is a fail. Listen for a clunk over potholes.
What testers flag before it fails
An advisory is the tester telling you what fails next year. On the Combo the usual suspects are tyre tread below the legal minimum (21.1% of tests) and an engine oil leak (10.2%). The advisory conversion table shows which of these are worth acting on first.
Combo pass rate by fuel
Among Vauxhall Combo cars, petrol versions pass 81% of the time and diesel versions 59.1%, a gap of 21.9 points. Diesels tend to be bought for high mileage, which shows up at the test as wear.
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 59.1% | 265,390 |
| Petrol | 81% | 12,551 |
Pass rate by year of first use
Between 2002 (47.7%) and 2022 (77.5%) the pass rate moves mostly with age. Among years with a decent sample, 2021 is the strongest at 78.4% and 2004 the weakest at 46.5%.
| First used | Pass rate | Tests | Miles a year | First MOT pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vauxhall Combo 2022 | 77.5% | 1,231 | 8,116 | 77.1% |
| Vauxhall Combo 2021 | 78.4% | 6,234 | 9,681 | 77.4% |
| Vauxhall Combo 2020 | 72.9% | 29,532 | 11,535 | 71.2% |
| Vauxhall Combo 2019 | 72% | 47,315 | 11,089 | – |
| Vauxhall Combo 2018 | 67% | 8,870 | 11,145 | – |
| Vauxhall Combo 2017 | 61.6% | 10,849 | 11,748 | – |
| Vauxhall Combo 2016 | 60% | 15,191 | 11,796 | – |
| Vauxhall Combo 2015 | 58.4% | 15,487 | 11,421 | – |
| Vauxhall Combo 2014 | 57.2% | 14,433 | 10,521 | – |
| Vauxhall Combo 2013 | 54.2% | 9,617 | 10,163 | – |
| Vauxhall Combo 2012 | 51.2% | 8,697 | 9,542 | – |
| Vauxhall Combo 2011 | 59% | 22,248 | 8,112 | – |
| Vauxhall Combo 2010 | 56% | 19,857 | 7,685 | – |
| Vauxhall Combo 2009 | 50.1% | 11,694 | 7,991 | – |
| Vauxhall Combo 2008 | 48.6% | 15,786 | 7,949 | – |
| Vauxhall Combo 2007 | 47.1% | 13,298 | 7,654 | – |
| Vauxhall Combo 2006 | 47% | 10,374 | 7,094 | – |
| Vauxhall Combo 2005 | 48.4% | 6,976 | 6,641 | – |
| Vauxhall Combo 2004 | 46.5% | 6,223 | 6,850 | – |
| Vauxhall Combo 2003 | 46.5% | 4,591 | 6,434 | – |
| Vauxhall Combo 2002 | 47.7% | 1,598 | 6,334 | – |
Pass rate by mileage
On the 2019 cars, a Combo under 40,000 miles passes 78.3% of the time; one over 100,000 passes 66.4%. When comparing two used Combos, the odometer tells you more than the year.
| Mileage at test (2019 cars) | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 78.3% | 15,712 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 70.1% | 13,594 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 68.8% | 9,718 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 67.7% | 4,891 |
| Over 100,000 | 66.4% | 3,395 |
Compared with other cars
Set against the rest of the Vauxhall range, which averages 65.7%, the Combo at 60.1% is below par. Within the family, see the Corsa (64.4%), how the Astra does (65.7%), Vauxhall Mokka reliability (71.5%) and how the Insignia does (67.9%), or Vauxhall reliability by model. Buyers weighing a Combo against other cars of similar popularity often compare it with the Renault Megane (54.7%) and BMW X5 (79.2%). The full reliability table puts them side by side, and the statistics for all 98 million tests give the baseline.
Each Combo year in detail
Each year opens to show its own failure list and pass rate by mileage.
Vauxhall Combo 2022 77.5% pass 1,231 tests77.1% at first MOT
On a 2022 Vauxhall Combo, wipers not clearing the screen appears on 35.4% of failed tests, with a tyre worn or cut to the cords next at 19.5%.
2022 cars pass 79.9% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 80% at 80,000 to 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 79.9% | 1,059 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 62.2% | 143 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 62.5% | 24 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 80% | 5 |
Vauxhall Combo 2021 78.4% pass 6,234 tests77.4% at first MOT
On a 2021 Vauxhall Combo, wipers not clearing the screen appears on 35.1% of failed tests, with a headlamp not working next at 12.4%.
2021 cars pass 81.5% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 78.3% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 81.5% | 4,363 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 72.8% | 1,168 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 67.7% | 462 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 67.1% | 158 |
| Over 100,000 | 78.3% | 83 |
By fuel: diesel 76.2% (3,893 tests), petrol 82.1% (2,341 tests).
Vauxhall Combo 2020 72.9% pass 29,532 tests71.2% at first MOT
On a 2020 Vauxhall Combo, wipers not clearing the screen appears on 28% of failed tests, with brake pads worn below 1.5mm next at 15.7%.
2020 cars pass 78.6% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 69.5% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 78.6% | 13,646 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 68.5% | 8,166 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 67.4% | 4,890 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 66.3% | 1,949 |
| Over 100,000 | 69.5% | 880 |
By fuel: diesel 71.2% (24,908 tests), petrol 81.8% (4,624 tests).
Vauxhall Combo 2019 72% pass 47,315 tests
On a 2019 Vauxhall Combo, wipers not clearing the screen appears on 21.2% of failed tests, with brake pads worn below 1.5mm next at 14.8%.
2019 cars pass 78.3% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 66.4% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 78.3% | 15,712 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 70.1% | 13,594 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 68.8% | 9,718 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 67.7% | 4,891 |
| Over 100,000 | 66.4% | 3,395 |
By fuel: diesel 70.9% (42,313 tests), petrol 81.2% (5,002 tests).
Vauxhall Combo 2018 67% pass 8,870 tests
On a 2018 Vauxhall Combo, a broken coil spring appears on 17.2% of failed tests, with a dashboard warning light next at 15.4%.
2018 cars pass 76.2% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 59.7% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 76.2% | 2,072 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 67.7% | 2,102 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 65.2% | 1,993 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 61.7% | 1,361 |
| Over 100,000 | 59.7% | 1,341 |
By fuel: diesel 66.8% (8,286 tests), petrol 69.5% (584 tests).
Vauxhall Combo 2017 61.6% pass 10,849 tests
On a 2017 Vauxhall Combo, a broken coil spring appears on 22.1% of failed tests, with a dashboard warning light next at 16.2%.
2017 cars pass 70.4% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 57.8% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 70.4% | 1,216 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 65.8% | 1,971 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 60.7% | 2,442 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 59.1% | 2,271 |
| Over 100,000 | 57.8% | 2,946 |
Vauxhall Combo 2016 60% pass 15,191 tests
On a 2016 Vauxhall Combo, a broken coil spring appears on 22.2% of failed tests, with a worn suspension bush next at 12.1%.
2016 cars pass 72.2% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 55.9% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 72.2% | 1,004 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 66.2% | 1,930 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 62.9% | 2,937 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 57.5% | 3,267 |
| Over 100,000 | 55.9% | 6,050 |
Vauxhall Combo 2015 58.4% pass 15,487 tests
On a 2015 Vauxhall Combo, a broken coil spring appears on 25.3% of failed tests, with a brake light not working next at 10.7%.
2015 cars pass 72.2% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 56.9% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 72.2% | 630 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 62.9% | 1,238 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 60.2% | 2,527 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 56.5% | 3,515 |
| Over 100,000 | 56.9% | 7,572 |
Vauxhall Combo 2014 57.2% pass 14,433 tests
On a 2014 Vauxhall Combo, a broken coil spring appears on 24.6% of failed tests, with a brake light not working next at 10.1%.
2014 cars pass 68.9% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 54.5% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 68.9% | 488 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 64.4% | 1,093 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 60.2% | 2,253 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 57% | 3,119 |
| Over 100,000 | 54.5% | 7,470 |
Vauxhall Combo 2013 54.2% pass 9,617 tests
On a 2013 Vauxhall Combo, a broken coil spring appears on 22% of failed tests, with a worn suspension bush next at 11.1%.
2013 cars pass 70% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 52.9% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 70% | 283 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 61.9% | 583 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 55.2% | 1,173 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 52.8% | 1,881 |
| Over 100,000 | 52.9% | 5,695 |
Vauxhall Combo 2012 51.2% pass 8,697 tests
On a 2012 Vauxhall Combo, a broken coil spring appears on 24.2% of failed tests, with a sidelight not working next at 9.8%.
2012 cars pass 57.2% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 49.9% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 57.2% | 367 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 58.1% | 454 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 52.2% | 940 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 52.2% | 1,451 |
| Over 100,000 | 49.9% | 5,450 |
Vauxhall Combo 2011 59% pass 22,248 tests
On a 2011 Vauxhall Combo, a broken coil spring appears on 19.2% of failed tests, with a number plate light not working next at 15.2%.
2011 cars pass 64.5% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 49.7% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 64.5% | 1,293 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 78% | 3,105 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 70.9% | 3,497 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 58.5% | 3,174 |
| Over 100,000 | 49.7% | 10,963 |
Vauxhall Combo 2010 56% pass 19,857 tests
On a 2010 Vauxhall Combo, a broken coil spring appears on 19.4% of failed tests, with a number plate light not working next at 13.1%.
2010 cars pass 61.4% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 48.5% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 61.4% | 946 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 73.2% | 2,683 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 65.2% | 3,253 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 54.6% | 2,918 |
| Over 100,000 | 48.5% | 9,895 |
Vauxhall Combo 2009 50.1% pass 11,694 tests
On a 2009 Vauxhall Combo, a broken coil spring appears on 17% of failed tests, with a worn ball joint next at 12.3%.
2009 cars pass 54.5% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 47.9% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 54.5% | 442 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 58.4% | 527 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 56.2% | 1,250 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 51.2% | 1,771 |
| Over 100,000 | 47.9% | 7,586 |
Vauxhall Combo 2008 48.6% pass 15,786 tests
On a 2008 Vauxhall Combo, a broken coil spring appears on 15.6% of failed tests, with a number plate light not working next at 12.9%.
2008 cars pass 49.8% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 47.2% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 49.8% | 482 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 60.1% | 348 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 57.1% | 1,173 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 50.2% | 2,224 |
| Over 100,000 | 47.2% | 11,356 |
Vauxhall Combo 2007 47.1% pass 13,298 tests
On a 2007 Vauxhall Combo, a broken coil spring appears on 14.6% of failed tests, with a number plate light not working next at 12.8%.
2007 cars pass 44% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 46.3% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 44% | 323 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 57.9% | 292 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 52.5% | 883 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 48.2% | 1,766 |
| Over 100,000 | 46.3% | 9,854 |
Vauxhall Combo 2006 47% pass 10,374 tests
On a 2006 Vauxhall Combo, body mounting corroded at a mounting point appears on 14.1% of failed tests, with corroded brake pipes next at 13.8%.
2006 cars pass 47.4% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 45.8% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 47.4% | 211 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 60.8% | 209 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 53.5% | 747 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 48.6% | 1,390 |
| Over 100,000 | 45.8% | 7,700 |
Vauxhall Combo 2005 48.4% pass 6,976 tests
On a 2005 Vauxhall Combo, a broken coil spring appears on 15.9% of failed tests, with corroded brake pipes next at 13.4%.
2005 cars pass 44.3% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 47.7% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 44.3% | 201 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 63.3% | 158 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 51.2% | 535 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 50% | 974 |
| Over 100,000 | 47.7% | 4,994 |
Vauxhall Combo 2004 46.5% pass 6,223 tests
On a 2004 Vauxhall Combo, a split CV boot appears on 16.7% of failed tests, with corroded brake pipes next at 14.4%.
2004 cars pass 39.7% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 46.1% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 39.7% | 262 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 56.6% | 76 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 51.4% | 296 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 52.7% | 582 |
| Over 100,000 | 46.1% | 4,844 |
Vauxhall Combo 2003 46.5% pass 4,591 tests
On a 2003 Vauxhall Combo, a split CV boot appears on 14.8% of failed tests, with a broken coil spring next at 14.2%.
2003 cars pass 39.7% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 45.3% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 39.7% | 146 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 68.8% | 64 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 59.8% | 261 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 49.8% | 530 |
| Over 100,000 | 45.3% | 3,485 |
Vauxhall Combo 2002 47.7% pass 1,598 tests
On a 2002 Vauxhall Combo, body mounting corroded at a mounting point appears on 16.5% of failed tests, with a split CV boot next at 16.2%.
2002 cars pass 25.7% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 47.9% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 25.7% | 35 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 65.4% | 26 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 59.6% | 104 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 39.9% | 158 |
| Over 100,000 | 47.9% | 1,235 |
Questions people ask
Is the Vauxhall Combo reliable?
On MOT evidence the Vauxhall Combo is well below average. It passes 60.1% of tests against 71.7% for all cars, and trails cars of the same age by 11.7 points. 73% pass their first MOT at three years old. Figures from 280,101 DVSA tests.
What are the most common Vauxhall Combo MOT failures?
A broken coil spring (13.4% of failed tests), a number plate light not working (8.5%) and wipers not clearing the screen (7.5%). Coil springs fracture on British roads more than anywhere else in Europe, and a fractured spring is a fail. Listen for a clunk over potholes.
Which Vauxhall Combo year is the most reliable?
Among years with a large sample, 2021 cars have the highest pass rate at 78.4% and 2004 cars the lowest at 46.5%. Newer years pass more because they are younger, so compare a specific car's year against the table above rather than against the overall figure.
What advisories does a Vauxhall Combo usually get?
Tyre tread below the legal minimum is the most frequent, noted on 21.1% of all Combo tests, then an engine oil leak (10.2%). An advisory passes the car today but marks the item most likely to fail next year.
How many miles a year does a Vauxhall Combo do?
About 9,663 miles a year on average, calculated from the odometer readings recorded at consecutive MOTs. That is above the UK average of roughly 7,400, which is typical of a car bought for commuting or work.
How do I check a particular Vauxhall Combo?
The figures describe the whole fleet. For one car, enter its registration in the free MOT check to see its own test history, advisories and mileage, set against these averages for its year.
Checking a Combo before you buy?
Enter the registration to see its own MOT history, advisories and mileage set against these figures, including whether it has done more or fewer than the 9,663 miles a year typical of the model.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 to 2025. Class 4 cars, normal tests only; a pass after rectification counts as an initial failure. Age-adjusted figures compare the model's pass rate at each age with the national rate at the same age. Methodology.