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 top failure area 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?

From an MOT reliability standpoint, the Ford Fiesta has a lower failure rate. However, MOT pass rates are just one factor — also consider insurance costs, fuel economy, running costs and personal preference. Use AutoSafe's free prediction tool to check a specific vehicle by registration.

Ford Fiesta vs Vauxhall Corsa — MOT Failure Rate Comparison

Q: Which is more reliable, Ford Fiesta or Vauxhall Corsa?

Based on 9,901,410 MOT tests, the Ford Fiesta is more reliable with a 2.5 percentage point lower failure rate. The Ford Fiesta has a 31.9% failure rate while the Vauxhall Corsa has 34.4%.

Ford Fiesta

31.9%

failure rate from 6,046,098 tests

3.9pp above UK avg (28%)

Vauxhall Corsa

34.4%

failure rate from 3,855,312 tests

6.4pp above UK avg (28%)

Verdict: The Ford Fiesta is more reliable based on MOT data, with a 2.5 percentage point lower failure rate than the Vauxhall Corsa.

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

Component Risk Comparison

Side-by-side breakdown of which MOT failure areas each model is weaker in:

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	Better
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 Is More Reliable: Ford Fiesta or Vauxhall Corsa?

Based on official DVSA MOT test records covering 9,901,410 tests between these two models, the Ford Fiesta comes out ahead with a 2.5 percentage point lower overall failure rate. The Ford Fiesta fails 31.9% of the time compared to the Vauxhall Corsa's 34.4%.

However, the gap between these models varies by vehicle age. Younger examples of both models tend to have more similar pass rates, while differences can become more pronounced as vehicles age and accumulate wear. Component-level data shows each model has different weak spots — the Ford Fiesta's top risk area is lamps & electrics while the Vauxhall Corsa's is lamps & electrics. Knowing your model's specific weaknesses helps you target pre-MOT checks where they matter most.

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 risks represent the probability of failure in each specific area. Data covers 142 million MOT tests across the UK. Comparisons are based on aggregate statistics and individual vehicle condition will vary.

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