Used car guide

2011 Vauxhall Antara: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Vauxhall Antaras, from 697 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

697MOT tests in 2025
51%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
7,200typical miles a year
3×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Vauxhall Antaras than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Engine oil leaks3× usual
    Vauxhall Antara
    26.7% All 2011 cars
    8.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.2% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Suspension arm4.1× usual
    Vauxhall Antara
    13.6% All 2011 cars
    3.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.4% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Shock absorbers2.3× usual
    Vauxhall Antara
    17.5% All 2011 cars
    7.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 1.9% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.5× usual
    Vauxhall Antara
    15.2% All 2011 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Number plate lights2× usual
    Vauxhall Antara
    15.8% All 2011 cars
    8.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 2.3% of all 2011 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.

By area

The share of 2011 Vauxhall Antara MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    55% 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
    44% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    40% 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.

  • Tyres
    34% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    28% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    15% 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

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2016791Lights and electrics 38%
20152,026Suspension 43%
20142,478Suspension 45%
20136,131Suspension 44%
20125,116Suspension 49%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2011 Vauxhall Antaras registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score