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Vauxhall Viceroy (1981)

524 real MOT outcomes analysed • 1.9% first-time pass rate

1981 Vauxhall Viceroy

CarHunch analysed 524 real MOT records for the 1981 Vauxhall Viceroy. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 78.1% below UK average
1.9%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
50,361
typical mileage
38,427–78,714 middle half
0.6%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.07
avg MOT failures per car
over 1.2 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1981 Vauxhall Viceroy

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.
  • 📄 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 Viceroy

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 (100%) 522 1.9% 0.07
Diesel (0%) 2 0% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 1981 Vauxhall Viceroy 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.

38,427
low mileage
50,361
typical
78,714
high mileage

Half of all 1981 Vauxhall Viceroy vehicles fall between 38,427 and 78,714 miles.

MOT History Averages

1.2
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.07
Avg failures per vehicle
0.2
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1981 Vauxhall Viceroy

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 50%
    Oil leak
  • 31.8%
    Oil leak, but not excessive
  • 18.2%
    Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 18.2%
    Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil
  • 18.2%
    Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 18.2%
    Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
  • 18.2%
    Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 13.6%
    Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1981. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Vauxhall Viceroy?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Vauxhall Viceroy:

1980 1982