Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 Vauxhall Adam?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2018 Vauxhall Adam?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2018 Vauxhall Adam?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2018 Vauxhall Adam reliable?

Based on MOT data from 5,410 vehicles, the 2018 Vauxhall Adam has a first-time MOT pass rate of 84.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Vauxhall Adam?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Vauxhall Adam are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (48.8% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (42.3% of vehicles), Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (35% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2018 Vauxhall Adam?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Vauxhall Adam (2018)

5,410 real MOT outcomes analysed • 84.5% first-time pass rate

2018 Vauxhall Adam

CarHunch analysed 5,410 real MOT records for the 2018 Vauxhall Adam. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2018 Vauxhall Adam passes its MOT first time in 84.5% of cases, which is a solid 4.5 percentage points above the UK average—suggesting decent build quality and owner maintenance habits. However, nearly one in five of these cars (18.9%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a genuine concern worth investigating on any used example you're considering.

At just over 27,000 miles median mileage, these Adams are relatively lightly driven for their age, which explains the low failure rate of just 1.08 per vehicle. The high advisory count of 5.2 per car points to wear items and minor issues accumulating, typical for a small city car; when shopping, get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks suspension bushes, brake wear indicators, and fluid leaks, as these are likely culprits.

The 2018 Vauxhall Adam passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (84.5%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

84.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

18.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.08

Over 6.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

27k

Middle half: 20k–36k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5.2 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 5,410 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 5,410 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 48.8%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 35%

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil · Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil · Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Brake wear 31.5%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,410 Vauxhall Adam cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Vauxhall Adam

Based on MOT data from 5,410 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 18.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	5,409	84.5%	1.08

Colour Breakdown

Based on 59,487 Vauxhall Adam vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 26%

15,493

Red 25.9%

15,381

Blue 21.2%

12,593

Black 13.2%

7,841

Grey 5.4%

3,194

Yellow 3%

1,776

Green 1.8%

1,081

Orange 1.2%

685

Purple 1.1%

652

Gold 0.7%

394

Brown 0.4%

222

Pink 0.3%

175

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Vauxhall Adam vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

27,482

typical

19,853

low mileage

36,287

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Vauxhall Adam vehicles fall between 19,853 and 36,287 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 19,853 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 19,853–36,287 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Vauxhall Adams sit.

⚠ Over 48,987 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Vauxhall Adam — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Vauxhall Adams are still on the road.

Strong survival — 5,256 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

6.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.08

Avg failures per vehicle

5.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Vauxhall Adam: All Adam years → Which year to buy? →

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Average reliability — agree?