Vauxhall Adam MOT Failures
An analysis of 1,361,573 real DVSA MOT tests on the Vauxhall Adam — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: M13 (2012–2019).
Where the Vauxhall Adam fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Vauxhall Adam is track rod ends worn — this model is 17 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 1,361,573 MOT tests, 3.2% of all Vauxhall Adam tests recorded this as a failure.
Steering faults include worn track rod ends, power steering leaks, and rack wear. These are safety-critical — any play in the steering should be investigated immediately.
Other notable weak points include reversing lamp lens defective (45x the fleet average), suspension pin, bush or joint worn (30x the fleet average), suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing worn (13x the fleet average), and abs fault (11x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Vauxhall Adam's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 5 categories: Steering, Lights & Electrics, Suspension, Brakes, Tyres. If you're inspecting a Vauxhall Adam before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Vauxhall Adam's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Vauxhall Adam specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are suspension pin, bush or joint worn (30x the average) and reversing lamp lens defective (30x). suspension component missing, (23x) and reversing lamp not securely attached (21x) also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Vauxhall Adam specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are reversing lamp lens defective (45x the average) and light unit fault (21x). track rod ends worn (14x) and suspension component damaged or corroded (11x) also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
For the Vauxhall Adam specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are track rod ends worn (16x the average) and suspension pin, bush or joint worn (12x). suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing worn (9.6x) and abs fault (9.1x) also appear frequently.
The shift from suspension pin, bush or joint worn at lower mileages to track rod ends worn at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
Known issues beyond the MOT
An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Vauxhall Adam specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Timing chain stretch and tensioner failure (1.2/1.4) Major
The timing chains on 1.2 and 1.4 engines stretch prematurely due to inadequate tensioner design and extended oil change intervals. Affects All; typical independent garage repair cost is £400–£600.
Water ingress through door seals and drainage points Major
The Adam suffers from poor door seal design and blocked drainage channels that allow water to enter the cabin and electrical systems. Affects All; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£400.
Steering rack gaiter and ball joint dust cover failure
MOT data shows this model fails at 28.2x the fleet average for steering rack gaiter defects, with over 34,000 recorded failures across all variants. Affects All; typical independent garage repair cost is £80–£150.
Suspension component premature wear
MOT data shows the Adam fails at 19.3x the fleet average for suspension wear, with over 15,700 failures recorded. Affects All; typical independent garage repair cost is £150–£300.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Vauxhall Adam common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Vauxhall Adam
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Vauxhall Adam:
Steering — check for track rod ends worn. Lights & Electrics — check for reversing lamp lens defective, reversing lamp not securely attached. Suspension — check for suspension pin, bush or joint worn, suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing worn, suspension component missing,.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about timing chain stretch and tensioner failure and water ingress through door seals and drainage points. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £400. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Vauxhall Adam?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Vauxhall Adam MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Vauxhall Adam?
Based on 1,361,573 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is track rod ends worn — at 17x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include reversing lamp lens defective and suspension pin, bush or joint worn.
Is the Vauxhall Adam reliable based on MOT data?
The Vauxhall Adam has 17 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag timing chain stretch and tensioner failure as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Vauxhall Adam most commonly fails on track rod ends worn and suspension pin, bush or joint worn. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are suspension pin, bush or joint worn and reversing lamp lens defective.
How do I check a Vauxhall Adam's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.