2014 Vauxhall Adam: common problems and what to check
What gets flagged at MOT on 2014 Vauxhall Adams, from 13,219 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
What stands out
Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2014 Vauxhall Adams than on all cars registered in 2014.
- Shock absorbers4.1× usualVauxhall Adam23.1% All 2014 cars5.7%
Failed outright at MOT: 6%, against 1.3% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.
- Track rod ends4.6× usualVauxhall Adam20.9% All 2014 cars4.5%
Failed outright at MOT: 10.9%, against 2.3% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.
- Sub-frame4.9× usualVauxhall Adam12.2% All 2014 cars2.5%
Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 0.1% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimateAt the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.
- Front strut mounts and bushes8.4× usualVauxhall Adam4.2% All 2014 cars0.5%
Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.1% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £120–£400 our estimateAt the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
- Rear fog light3.8× usualVauxhall Adam2.3% All 2014 cars0.6%
Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 0.5% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £10–£80 our estimateAt the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.1% here, against 8.2% of all 2014 cars. Ball joint: 0.9% here, against 4.2% of all 2014 cars.
By area
The share of 2014 Vauxhall Adam MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Suspension51% of testsRough price £120–£400
At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
- Tyres34% of testsRough price £70–£150
At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
- Brakes20% of testsRough price £150–£350
At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
- Lights and electrics15% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Wipers, windscreen and mirrors8% of testsRough price £15–£250
At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
- Exhaust and emissions6% of testsRough price £100–£1,200
At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.
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Other years
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 4,836 | Tyres 30% |
| 2018 | 5,470 | Suspension 36% |
| 2017 | 7,541 | Suspension 43% |
| 2016 | 9,459 | Suspension 47% |
| 2015 | 10,817 | Suspension 49% |
| 2013 | 7,488 | Suspension 48% |
Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2014 Vauxhall Adams registered in 2014. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score