Used car guide · 2006–2014

Vauxhall Corsa D: best and worst years, and what goes wrong

How every year of the Vauxhall Corsa D did at its MOT in 2025 compared with other cars the same age, the weak spots that keep coming up, and what to check before you buy one. From 385,137 MOT tests.

2008best year: 54% pass first time, 3 points below all 2008 cars
2013weakest year: 59% pass first time, 7 points below all 2013 cars
Engine oil leaksthe weak spot that shows up in 6 different years

Year by year

First-time MOT pass rate for each year of the Vauxhall Corsa D, against all cars registered the same year. Older cars fail more, so the comparison with cars the same age is what matters.

40%70%100%2008: 54% pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%) 54% 20082009: 55% pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%) 55% 20092010: 55% pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%) 55% 20102011: 57% pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%) 57% 20112012: 57% pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%) 57% 20122013: 59% pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%) 59% 20132014: 57% pass first time (all 2014 cars: 69%) 57% 2014*
This model, first-time pass rate All cars registered that year · * changeover year: some cars are the previous or next generation
YearPass first timeAll cars that yearStands outMOT tests
200854%57% -3Engine oil leaks 2.2× usual35,816
200955%58% -3Engine oil leaks 2.6× usual39,748
201055%59% -4Engine oil leaks 1.8× usual46,086
201157%61% -4Engine oil leaks 2.1× usual53,793
201257%63% -6Engine oil leaks 2.5× usual68,236
201359%66% -7Engine oil leaks 2.4× usual69,323
2014*57%69% -12Track rod ends 4.6× usual72,135

Weak spots across the Vauxhall Corsa D

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year of this generation. Repeat findings like these are much less likely to be chance.

  • Engine oil leaksup to 2.6× usual

    Stands out in 6 years: 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008.

    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 absorbersup to 2.6× usual

    Stands out in 6 years: 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008.

    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.

  • Front strut mounts and bushesup to 6.4× usual

    Stands out in 4 years: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008.

    Rough price £120–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Sub-frameup to 2.3× usual

    Stands out in 4 years: 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010.

    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.

  • Individual direction indicatorsup to 2.5× usual

    Stands out in 3 years: 2010, 2009, 2008.

    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.

  • Exhaust systemup to 1.8× usual

    Stands out in 2 years: 2012, 2011.

    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.

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting each car's main test of the year (not retests). A weak spot needs at least 30 cars flagged and must stay 1.5× the usual rate even at the cautious end of a 95% confidence range. Generation years are approximate: cars registered in a changeover year (*) can be either generation. How we score

Looking at a Vauxhall Corsa?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots, and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.