Used car guide

2010 Vauxhall Antara: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2010 Vauxhall Antaras, from 215 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 215 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

215MOT tests in 2025
47%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%)
6,700typical miles a year
4.6×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2010 Vauxhall Antaras than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints4.6× usual
    Vauxhall Antara
    22.8% All 2010 cars
    5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6%, against 2.3% of all 2010 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.

  • Exhaust system3.1× usual
    Vauxhall Antara
    23.3% All 2010 cars
    7.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7%, against 2% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Number plate lights2.3× usual
    Vauxhall Antara
    20.5% All 2010 cars
    9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.6%, against 2.5% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Sidelights2.3× usual
    Vauxhall Antara
    15.8% All 2010 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 15.8%, against 6% of all 2010 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 2010 Vauxhall Antara MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    58% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    46% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    40% 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
    38% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    25% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    24% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Vauxhall Antara?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2016791Suspension 38%
20152,026Suspension 43%
20142,478Suspension 45%
20136,131Suspension 44%
20125,116Suspension 49%
2011697Suspension 55%
2009458Suspension 54%
2008358Suspension 59%
2007213Brakes 47%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2010 Vauxhall Antaras registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score