Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 Vauxhall Agila?

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 2012 Vauxhall Agila?

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 2012 Vauxhall Agila?

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.

How many 2012 Vauxhall Agila vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

29% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2012 Vauxhall Agila reliable?

Based on MOT data from 4,306 vehicles, the 2012 Vauxhall Agila has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Vauxhall Agila?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Vauxhall Agila are: Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (50.2% of vehicles), Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (49.7% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (47.2% 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 2012 Vauxhall Agila?

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 Agila (2012)

4,306 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.4% first-time pass rate

2012 Vauxhall Agila

CarHunch analysed 4,306 real MOT records for the 2012 Vauxhall Agila. 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 2012 Vauxhall Agila passes its first MOT at 82.4%, slightly above the UK average of 80%, but that's genuinely offset by a serious concern: 28.5% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above acceptable levels and a genuine buyer warning. This means nearly one in three Agilas you look at will have had a defect serious enough to warrant immediate attention.

These cars are running at around 38,000 miles median (typical for age), yet they're averaging 2.51 failures and 15.3 advisories per test, suggesting widespread wear and ageing component issues rather than catastrophic flaws. Before committing to any 2012 Agila, invest in a full pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic, because the dangerous defect rate means structural or safety problems are genuinely common in this cohort.

The 2012 Vauxhall Agila has a decent first-time pass rate (82.4%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

82.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

28.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.51

Over 13.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

38k

Middle half: 26k–53k

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 15.3 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 4,306 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 4,306 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 50.2%

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

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

Brake wear 49.7%

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · …

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

Suspension & steering 29.1%

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken · Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken · Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 4,306 Vauxhall Agila cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Vauxhall Agila

Based on MOT data from 4,306 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 28.5% 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%)	4,305	82.4%	2.51

Colour Breakdown

Based on 66,521 Vauxhall Agila vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 33.2%

22,090

Silver 25.9%

17,253

Red 17.3%

11,500

Black 10.8%

7,167

Green 6.2%

4,113

White 2.9%

1,919

Brown 1%

658

Grey 0.8%

528

Yellow 0.7%

436

Purple 0.6%

410

Turquoise 0.4%

258

Gold 0.3%

189

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 Vauxhall Agila 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.

38,196

typical

25,986

low mileage

53,493

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Vauxhall Agila vehicles fall between 25,986 and 53,493 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 25,986 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.

✓ 25,986–53,493 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Vauxhall Agilas sit.

⚠ Over 72,215 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Vauxhall Agila — Still on the Road

Almost all 2012 Vauxhall Agilas are still on the road.

Strong survival — 3,792 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 91% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

13.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.51

Avg failures per vehicle

15.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013 2014 2015

Or browse all models: Vauxhall →

Compare with another model

See how the 2012 Vauxhall Agila stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing