Vauxhall Astra (2001)
2001 Vauxhall Astra
CarHunch analysed 105,627 real MOT records for the 2001 Vauxhall Astra. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2001 Vauxhall Astra has a first-time MOT pass rate of 70.7%, which is 9.3 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—a meaningful reliability shortfall for a car now 23 years old. More concerning, over a quarter of these vehicles (26.4%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is well above acceptable levels for a used purchase.
At a median mileage of 76,907 miles for a car of this age, these Astras show typical wear patterns, but the average of 4.1 failures and 17.7 advisories per test suggests accumulated mechanical issues are common. If you're considering one, factor in a full pre-purchase inspection covering the suspension, emissions, and brake systems, where failures cluster on this generation.
What to check before buying a 2001 Vauxhall Astra
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 26.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Vauxhall Astra
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (74%) | 78,446 | 71% | 4.16 |
| Diesel (25%) | 26,780 | 70% | 3.94 |
| LPG (0%) | 382 | 69.9% | 3.95 |
| Other (0%) | 10 | 76.1% | 2.7 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 7 | 66.3% | 5.71 |
| Electric (0%) | 2 | 68.3% | 3.5 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2001 Vauxhall Astra vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2001 Vauxhall Astra vehicles fall between 61,854 and 93,502 miles.
2001 Vauxhall Astra — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 3,091 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024 (5% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2024.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2001 Vauxhall Astra
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
80.9%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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76.8%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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69.2%
Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated
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66.1%
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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61.8%
Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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60.2%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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58.7%
Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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50.7%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2001. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Vauxhall Astra?
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