Which model group has the lower recorded MOT failure rate: Ford Fiesta or Vauxhall Corsa?

Across 9,901,410 recorded MOT tests, the Ford Fiesta group has a 2.5 percentage point lower historical failure rate. The Ford Fiesta group rate is 31.9% and the Vauxhall Corsa group rate is 34.4%. These population statistics do not predict an individual vehicle's result.

What are the main MOT differences between Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa?

The Ford Fiesta has a 31.9% overall MOT failure rate (6,046,098 tests) while the Vauxhall Corsa has 34.4% (3,855,312 tests). The highest complete component category for the Ford Fiesta is lamps & electrics, while for the Vauxhall Corsa it is lamps & electrics.

Should I buy a Ford Fiesta or Vauxhall Corsa?

This aggregate MOT comparison is not a buying recommendation. It describes recorded model-group outcomes, not the condition or likely result of a particular vehicle. Check the specific vehicle's MOT history and condition before deciding.

Ford Fiesta vs Vauxhall Corsa — MOT Failure Rate Comparison

Ford Fiesta

31.9%

failure rate from 6,046,098 tests

5.0pp above the dataset reference (26.9%)

Vauxhall Corsa

34.4%

failure rate from 3,855,312 tests

7.5pp above the dataset reference (26.9%)

Recorded-rate result: The Ford Fiesta model group has a 2.5 percentage point lower historical failure rate than the Vauxhall Corsa group in this dataset.

Failure Rate by Vehicle Age

How the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa compare across different age groups:

Age	Ford Fiesta	Vauxhall Corsa	Difference
0-2 years	11.5%	13.1%	Ford Fiesta +1.6pp
3-5 years	15.8%	18.7%	Ford Fiesta +2.9pp
6-10 years	30.3%	33.1%	Ford Fiesta +2.8pp
11-15 years	41.7%	43.7%	Ford Fiesta +2.0pp
15+ years	45.6%	49.2%	Ford Fiesta +3.6pp

Recorded Component Comparison

Side-by-side aggregate rates for MOT tests involving each component category. These are group statistics, not a diagnosis of either vehicle.

Ford Fiesta Component Vauxhall Corsa

7.6%

Lamps & Electrics

7.1%

5.8%

Suspension

6.1%

3.6%

Tyres

3.0%

2.8%

Brakes

3.5%

2.4%

Visibility

3.5%

1.6%

Steering

1.5%

1.6%

Body & Chassis

2.1%

Component	Ford Fiesta	Vauxhall Corsa	Lower rate
Lamps & Electrics	7.6%	7.1%	Vauxhall Corsa
Suspension	5.8%	6.1%	Ford Fiesta
Tyres	3.6%	3.0%	Vauxhall Corsa
Brakes	2.8%	3.5%	Ford Fiesta
Visibility	2.4%	3.5%	Ford Fiesta
Steering	1.6%	1.5%	Vauxhall Corsa
Body & Chassis	1.6%	2.1%	Ford Fiesta

Which Has the Lower Recorded Failure Rate?

Based on official DVSA MOT test records covering 9,901,410 tests between these two models, the Ford Fiesta group has a 2.5 percentage point lower overall failure rate. The Ford Fiesta group rate is 31.9% compared with 34.4% for the Vauxhall Corsa group.

The age-band table shows whether that gap is consistent across the available groups. The highest recorded component category is lamps & electrics for the Ford Fiesta group and lamps & electrics for the Vauxhall Corsa group. Category rates show historical involvement in failed tests; they do not identify a fault on a particular vehicle.

Explore Each Model in Detail

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Data methodology: Failure rates are weighted averages across all mileage bands, calculated from official DVSA MOT test records. Only age/mileage combinations with 100+ tests are included. Component percentages are weighted recorded category rates, not probabilities for an individual vehicle. The checked-in dataset contains 148,509,908 tests and 39,969,903 failures. Vehicle condition and history are not captured by these group comparisons.

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