Used car guide

2012 Vauxhall Ampera hybrid: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the hybrid Vauxhall Ampera first registered in 2012 (hybrid cars only): we looked at the 492 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 492 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

492MOTs of 2012 hybrid cars, done in 2023–2025
68%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 64%)
8,600typical miles a year
4.7×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Vauxhall Ampera hybrid?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 Vauxhall Ampera hybrid than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints4.7× usual
    Vauxhall Ampera
    17.9% All 2012 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.9%, against 1.9% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Engine warning light4.6× usual
    Vauxhall Ampera
    7.9% All 2012 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.9%, against 1.7% of all 2012 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.

Common 2012 Vauxhall Ampera hybrid MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2012 Vauxhall Ampera hybrid MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    33% 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.

  • Brakes
    28% 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
    18% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Driveshafts and joints
    18% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Suspension
    17% 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.

  • 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2012 Vauxhall Ampera hybrid

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 4.7× as often on the 2012 Vauxhall Ampera hybrid as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the engine warning light? (Flagged at MOT 4.6× as often on the 2012 Vauxhall Ampera hybrid as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Vauxhall Ampera?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Vauxhall Ampera compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2015283Tyres 34%
20141,385Tyres 34%
2013648Tyres 35%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Vauxhall Ampera cars first registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score