Used car guide

2017 Vauxhall Meriva: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2017 Vauxhall Merivas, from 4,448 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,448MOT tests in 2025
74%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%)
5,500typical miles a year
4.8×the usual rate for coil springs

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2017 Vauxhall Merivas than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Coil springs4.8× usual
    Vauxhall Meriva
    13.8% All 2017 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 11.8%, against 2% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Exhaust system3.3× usual
    Vauxhall Meriva
    5% All 2017 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.4% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

  • Electronic stability control10.5× usual
    Vauxhall Meriva
    2.1% All 2017 cars
    0.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 0.2% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Engine warning light2.2× usual
    Vauxhall Meriva
    2.8% All 2017 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 1.3% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 1.5% here, against 4.8% of all 2017 cars.

By area

The share of 2017 Vauxhall Meriva MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    31% 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.

  • Suspension
    19% 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
    18% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    9% 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
    5% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    5% 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
20166,447Tyres 31%
20158,087Tyres 32%
20147,400Tyres 33%
20137,399Suspension 38%
20128,169Suspension 38%
201112,988Suspension 44%
20108,278Suspension 47%
20094,295Suspension 55%
20084,173Suspension 57%
20073,637Brakes 55%
20062,861Suspension 56%
20051,700Brakes 56%
20041,220Suspension 60%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2017 Vauxhall Merivas registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score