Used car guide

1997 Vauxhall Astra: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1997 Vauxhall Astras, from 436 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 436 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

436MOT tests in 2025
59%pass first time (all 1997 cars: 67%)
2,900typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for number plates

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1997 Vauxhall Astras than on all cars registered in 1997.

  • Number plates2.5× usual
    Vauxhall Astra
    12.6% All 1997 cars
    5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.6% of all 1997 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.

  • Brakes pulling to one side3.5× usual
    Vauxhall Astra
    8.5% All 1997 cars
    2.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.9%, against 1.8% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.3× usual
    Vauxhall Astra
    10.6% All 1997 cars
    4.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 0.8% of all 1997 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.

  • Sub-frame2.5× usual
    Vauxhall Astra
    7.3% All 1997 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0.1% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

By area

The share of 1997 Vauxhall Astra MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    42% 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.

  • 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
    27% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    26% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    21% 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
    21% 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023223Tyres 11%
20222,908Tyres 25%
20215,938Tyres 24%
20206,264Tyres 26%
201921,078Tyres 29%
201829,869Tyres 31%
201745,689Tyres 32%
201655,308Tyres 35%
201545,875Tyres 35%
201450,073Tyres 36%
201354,378Tyres 36%
201246,285Tyres 37%
201139,050Tyres 38%
201041,773Suspension 45%
200930,836Suspension 52%
200829,696Suspension 52%
200728,488Suspension 52%
200617,418Suspension 54%
200511,330Suspension 54%
20046,222Suspension 50%
20035,837Brakes 50%
20024,376Brakes 53%
20012,439Brakes 51%
20001,309Brakes 50%
1999768Suspension 49%
1998444Suspension 46%
1996240Suspension 45%
1995274Suspension 46%
1994201Suspension 41%
1993143Suspension 36%
1991101Brakes 24%
1990122Suspension 21%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1997 Vauxhall Astras registered in 1997. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score