Skip to main content
Check
Vauxhall

Vauxhall Agila reliability by build year

Coverage 2000-20142 named generationsHatchbackPETROL / DIESEL
At a glance

Vauxhall Agila built around 2009: about average at the MOT

Vauxhall Agilas built around 2009 fail their MOT about as often as similar cars the same age. An independent inspection matters more than the wider numbers on cars this old.

Check a Vauxhall Agila by number plate

Key figure

33% of MOT tests on Vauxhall Agilas built around 2009 ended in a fail (retests included), against 32% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Vauxhall Agilas built around 2009 involves the suspension.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

The Vauxhall Agila's most common MOT issues, turned into things to ask about or look for.

Brake pipes and hoses

High priority

Look under the car for corrosion or chafing on the rigid brake pipes near the rear axle.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Suspension springs

Worth checking

Check ride height is even side-to-side and look for cracked or rusted coils.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

By build year

How build years differ

Fail rates have been steady over the last three years. Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your Agila's generation

Each card below is a different generation. Select your year and we'll highlight the match.

Agila Mk2 (B)

Mk2 (B) (2008-2014)

Too close to call between ratings
DIESELPETROL

23.1% fail rate, built around 2014 (11 years old)

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 4 MOTs, 24.8%)

From 4,696 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Agila Mk1 (A)

Mk1 (A) (2000-2007)

Not enough tests to rate
DIESELPETROL

29.5% fail rate, built around 2007 (18 years old)

Fails about as often as the average car this age (about 3 in 10 MOTs, 31.3%)

From 1,474 MOT tests at this ageView details →

Not sure which one you're looking at?

Match your build year to its generation, then see the fail rates for those build years of the Vauxhall Agila.

See every build year for the Vauxhall Agila

Side-by-side

Vauxhall Agila generations compared

Each generation is shown at 7 years old if it has at least 100 MOT tests at that age. If not, or if its cars are too new to be 7, it's shown at another age. We try ages close to 7 first. Newer generations have fewer years of data.

GenerationRatingFail rate
Mk2 (B) (2008-2014)
No ratingToo close to call between ratings
No ratingToo close to call between ratings23.1%built around 2014 (11 years old)from 4,696 MOT tests at this age
Mk1 (A) (2000-2007)
No ratingNot enough tests to rate
No ratingNot enough tests to rate29.5%built around 2007 (18 years old)from 1,474 MOT tests at this age

Each row is one generation of the Agila, shown at the age printed under its fail rate. So rows can be different ages. Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail, retests included. A rating is given only when there are enough tests to place the fail rate in one rating band with 95% confidence.

By age

Vauxhall Agila fail rate by age

This chart combines every Vauxhall Agila ever sold. It's good for the big picture. For one generation, scroll up to the build-year cards.

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rate
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
10 yearsbuilt around 2015
1,69821.6%
11 yearsbuilt around 2014
4,69623.1%
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
4,86026.2%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
5,26328.8%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
5,67029.3%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
5,71031.1%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
6,80233.0%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
2,07632.1%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
1,47429.5%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
1,32028.9%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
1,39529.3%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
1,40930.0%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
1,15929.1%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
73031.2%
24 yearsbuilt around 2001
51229.9%
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
11834.8%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 25+ years old.

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 16-year-old Vauxhall Agilas

These issues come from 16-year-old Vauxhall Agilas, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelPlenty of data

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    32.3%
    Advisory: 2,460Fail: 972 (28% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Brake pipe corroded or covered in grease

    25.7%
    Advisory: 2,495Fail: 206 (8% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    18.2%
    Advisory: 1,597Fail: 162 (9% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    16.1%
    Advisory: 1,464Fail: 173 (11% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Brake binding slightly

    10.9%
    Advisory: 522Fail: 315 (38% of the times it was found)

Based on 6,802 MOT tests on 16-year-old Vauxhall Agilas, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 16-year-old Vauxhall Agilas notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelPlenty of data
  1. Brakes + Suspension50%
  2. Suspension + Tyres34%
  3. Brakes + Tyres30%
  4. Lighting + Suspension21%

Both were noted at the same test. That doesn't mean one caused the other.

Across 4,126 MOT tests on Vauxhall Agila cars built around 2009 (16 years old) where more than one part of the car was noted.

Still registered

How many are still registered, and recalls

How many of these are still registered in the UK, and what's been recalled across the model.

How many are still registered

96%of this model's cars first registered in 2014 to 2015 were still registered 10 years later

UK average for cars first registered in 2014 to 2015: 92% · About typical

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0124).

Recall context

4 recalls in all

2 of the 4 Vauxhall Agila recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 1 Critical
  • 1 more

Top concerns

  • Airbag may not function to specification
  • Fuel may leak

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

Like-for-like

Other hatchbacks to compare

Other hatchbacks to compare

  1. 1

    Toyota IQ

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    23.1%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    4.8%
    Dangerous
    4.6%

    Lower fail rate: 23.1%, against 33.0% for the Vauxhall Agila, both built around 2009.

    4,046 MOT tests on cars built around 2009

  2. 2

    Nissan Pixo

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    27.2%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    4.6%
    Dangerous
    5.1%

    Lower fail rate: 27.2%, against 33.0% for the Vauxhall Agila, both built around 2009.

    1,800 MOT tests on cars built around 2009

  3. 3

    Daihatsu Sirion

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    29%

    Lower fail rate: 29.0%, against 33.0% for the Vauxhall Agila, both built around 2009.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    1,543 MOT tests on cars built around 2009

  4. 4

    Honda Insight

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    26.8%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    6.2%
    Dangerous
    6.1%

    Lower fail rate: 26.8%, against 33.0% for the Vauxhall Agila, both built around 2009.

    4 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    1,435 MOT tests on cars built around 2009

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2009 (16 years old), the Vauxhall Agila across all generations combined fails MOTs slightly more often than typical for this age. This is based on 6,802 16-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every Vauxhall Agila ever sold: 44,892 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2009 (16 years old): 6,802 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.