Used car guide

2000 Vauxhall Vectra: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2000 Vauxhall Vectras, from 290 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 290 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

290MOT tests in 2025
64%pass first time (all 2000 cars: 63%)
4,100typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for number plate lights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2000 Vauxhall Vectras than on all cars registered in 2000.

  • Number plate lights2.3× usual
    Vauxhall Vectra
    12.4% All 2000 cars
    5.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 1.3% of all 2000 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.

By area

The share of 2000 Vauxhall Vectra MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • 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.

  • Suspension
    38% 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
    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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    23% 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.

  • Tyres
    22% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    20% 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20091,270Suspension 53%
20087,050Suspension 53%
20076,118Suspension 52%
20063,176Suspension 52%
20051,456Suspension 57%
2004897Suspension 59%
2003498Suspension 55%
2002448Brakes 49%
2001488Brakes 47%
1999206Brakes 48%
1998151Suspension 35%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2000 Vauxhall Vectras registered in 2000. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score