Vauxhall Corsa (2002)
2002 Vauxhall Corsa
CarHunch analysed 101,593 real MOT records for the 2002 Vauxhall Corsa. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
A 2002 Corsa has a 66.5% first-time MOT pass rate, well below the UK average of 80%, and a concerning 42% of these cars have recorded dangerous defects at some point—meaning nearly half carry a genuine safety risk that demands careful inspection before purchase. Petrol and diesel variants perform almost identically, both struggling around the 66% mark.
These Corsas are now over 20 years old and show typical mileage for their age at around 62,500 miles median, but they're accumulating an average of 5.85 failures and 19.7 advisories per test, suggesting wear is catching up fast. Before buying, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the dangerous defect categories (suspension, brakes, steering) rather than relying on a recent pass certificate alone.
What to check before buying a 2002 Vauxhall Corsa
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.
- ⚠️ 42% 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 Corsa
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 (95%) | 96,578 | 66.5% | 5.85 |
| Diesel (5%) | 4,999 | 65.7% | 5.88 |
| LPG (0%) | 9 | 63.1% | 6.89 |
| Other (0%) | 5 | 77.6% | 2 |
| Electric (0%) | 2 | 65.7% | 5 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2002 Vauxhall Corsa 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 2002 Vauxhall Corsa vehicles fall between 49,138 and 76,731 miles.
2002 Vauxhall Corsa — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 4,593 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024 (6% 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 — 2002 Vauxhall Corsa
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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81.4%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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79.8%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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77.9%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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53.9%
Oil leak
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45.6%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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45%
Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases
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40.4%
Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated
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38.6%
Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Vauxhall Corsa?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.