Used car guide

2005 Vauxhall Astravan: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Vauxhall Astravans, from 1,053 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,053MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
7,300typical miles a year
2.7×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Vauxhall Astravans than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.7× usual
    Vauxhall Astravan
    40.3% All 2005 cars
    14.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.2%, against 2.4% of all 2005 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.

  • Engine oil leaks1.8× usual
    Vauxhall Astravan
    26.2% All 2005 cars
    14.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.3% of all 2005 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.

  • Shock absorbers2.6× usual
    Vauxhall Astravan
    18.2% All 2005 cars
    6.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 1.7% of all 2005 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.

  • Battery5.3× usual
    Vauxhall Astravan
    6.4% All 2005 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.3% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the car starts cleanly and there are no warning lights once running.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.4% here, against 10.7% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 Vauxhall Astravan MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    55% 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
    54% 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
    43% 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
    37% 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
    27% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    19% 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
2011682Suspension 48%
2010620Suspension 48%
2008678Suspension 57%
2007628Suspension 53%
20061,149Suspension 55%
2004638Brakes 55%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 Vauxhall Astravans registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score