Used car guide · 1995–2010

Vauxhall Tigra common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Vauxhall Tigra, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 19,924 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 1997 Vauxhall Tigra

Too few Vauxhall Tigra cars first registered in 1997 had an MOT during 2025 for reliable MOT figures. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Vauxhall Tigra as a whole.

157on the UK register at the end of 2025
Petrolfuel type
What to check on a 1997 car
  • MOT history

    Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.

  • Service history

    Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.

  • Finance and write-offs

    MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.

  • Test drive

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2010200920082007200620052004200019991998199719961995

What usually goes wrong with a Vauxhall Tigra?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Vauxhall Tigra in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Vauxhall Tigra MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Exhaust system

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    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.

  • Steering rack inner joints

    up to 4.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2006 and 2007.

    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.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006 and 2007.

    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.

Vauxhall Tigra MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2006 Vauxhall Tigra did best (52% passed first time, 4 points below all 2006 cars) and the 2009 did worst (52%, 7 points below all 2009 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200952%59% -74,518
200851%57% -63,532
200751%57% -64,135
200652%56% -44,409
200552%57% -52,437
200454%57% -3637
200062%61% +1145 (small sample)
199957%63% -6111 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Vauxhall Tigra

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

  1. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the Vauxhall Tigra as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the steering rack inner joints? (Flagged at MOT 4.8× as often on the Vauxhall Tigra as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the Vauxhall Tigra as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Vauxhall Tigra?

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.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score