Used car guide

2012 Vauxhall Ampera: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Vauxhall Amperas, from 383 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 383 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

383MOT tests in 2025
68%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
8,600typical miles a year
4.2×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Vauxhall Amperas than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints4.2× usual
    Vauxhall Ampera
    18.5% All 2012 cars
    4.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.9%, against 2.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Engine warning light4.9× usual
    Vauxhall Ampera
    8.9% All 2012 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.9%, against 1.8% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

By area

The share of 2012 Vauxhall Ampera MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    32% 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.

  • Brakes
    27% 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.

  • Suspension
    21% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    19% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Lights and electrics
    17% 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 mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2014458Tyres 33%
2013209Tyres 37%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Vauxhall Amperas registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score