Used car guide

2015 Vauxhall Viva: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Vauxhall Viva first registered in 2015: we looked at the 15,240 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

15,240MOTs of 2015 cars, done in 2023–2025
77%pass first time (all 2015 cars: 74%)
4,600typical miles a year
4.7×the usual rate for exhaust system

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2015 Vauxhall Viva?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2015 Vauxhall Viva than on all cars registered in 2015.

  • Exhaust system4.7× usual
    Vauxhall Viva
    10.7% All 2015 cars
    2.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 0.6% of all 2015 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.

  • Tyre pressure monitoring system6.5× usual
    Vauxhall Viva
    7.8% All 2015 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.8%, against 1.2% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges. Uneven wear can point to tracking or suspension problems.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints2.8× usual
    Vauxhall Viva
    3.1% All 2015 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 0.4% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Wipers1.8× usual
    Vauxhall Viva
    4.6% All 2015 cars
    2.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 1.7% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

Better than most

Brake discs: 5.2% here, against 12.5% of all 2015 cars. Coil springs: 0.8% here, against 4.3% of all 2015 cars.

Common 2015 Vauxhall Viva MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2015 Vauxhall Viva 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.

  • Suspension
    14% 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
    12% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    11% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    10% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Known faults on the 2015 Vauxhall Viva

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2015 Vauxhall Viva

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

  1. Does it use oil between services?
  2. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 4.7× as often on the 2015 Vauxhall Viva as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the tyre pressure monitoring system? (Flagged at MOT 6.5× as often on the 2015 Vauxhall Viva as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the 2015 Vauxhall Viva as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Vauxhall Viva?

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 Viva compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
201912,066Tyres 25%
201816,159Tyres 30%
201728,833Tyres 30%
201641,096Tyres 31%
1979–Too few tests
1978–Too few tests
1977–Too few tests
1976–Too few tests
1975–Too few tests
1974–Too few tests
1973–Too few tests
1972–Too few tests
1971–Too few tests
1970–Too few tests
1969–Too few tests
1968–Too few tests
1967–Too few tests
1966–Too few tests
1965–Too few tests
1964–Too few tests
1963–Too few tests

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 Viva cars first registered in 2015. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score