Used car guide

2012 Vauxhall Antara: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Vauxhall Antaras, from 5,116 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,116MOT tests in 2025

52%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)

7,200typical miles a year

3.7×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

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

Engine oil leaks3.7× usual

Vauxhall Antara
27.1% All 2012 cars
7.3%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.2% of all 2012 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 arm4.6× usual

Vauxhall Antara
11.9% All 2012 cars
2.6%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.2% of all 2012 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.
Suspension arm bushes and joints1.8× usual

Vauxhall Antara
18.6% All 2012 cars
10.1%

Failed outright at MOT: 5.8%, against 2% of all 2012 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.
Number plate lights2.1× usual

Vauxhall Antara
15.4% All 2012 cars
7.3%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.8%, against 2.1% of all 2012 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.
Rigid brake pipes2.4× usual

Vauxhall Antara
13.4% All 2012 cars
5.5%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 0.8% of all 2012 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.

Better than most

Ball joint: 2.3% here, against 5.6% of all 2012 cars. Track rod ends: 1.7% here, against 4.9% of all 2012 cars.

By area

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

Suspension

49% 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

41% 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

35% 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

29% 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

13% 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.

Looking at a Vauxhall Antara?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2016	791	Lights and electrics 38%
2015	2,026	Suspension 43%
2014	2,478	Suspension 45%
2013	6,131	Suspension 44%
2011	697	Suspension 55%

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