Skip to main content
Check
Vauxhall

Vauxhall Combo Life reliability by build year

Coverage 2018-present1 named generationMPVDIESEL / PETROL
At a glance

Vauxhall Combo Life built around 2021: about average at the MOT

Vauxhall Combo Lifes built around 2021 fail their MOT about as often as similar cars the same age.

Check a Vauxhall Combo Life by number plate

Key figure

16% of MOT tests on Vauxhall Combo Lifes built around 2021 ended in a fail (retests included), against 18% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Vauxhall Combo Lifes built around 2021 involves the tyres.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

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

Brake pads

High priority

Ask when the pads were last replaced and check the warning-light history.

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Tyres

Worth checking

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

Visibility

Worth checking

Inspect the visibility carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

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

Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your Combo Life's generation

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

Combo Life (Mk1)

Combo Life (Mk1) (2018-present)

Not enough tests to rate
PETROLDIESEL

17.5% fail rate, built around 2020 (5 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 1 in 8 MOTs, 12.8%)

From 1,356 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 Combo Life.

See every build year for the Vauxhall Combo Life

By age

Vauxhall Combo Life fail rate by age

This chart combines every Vauxhall Combo Life 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
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
1,68616.4%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
2,65715.7%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
1,35617.5%
6 yearsbuilt around 2019
9820.4%

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 6 years old.

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 4-year-old Vauxhall Combo Lifes

These issues come from 4-year-old Vauxhall Combo Lifes, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelEnough data

Most common advisories and fails

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

  1. 1
    Advisory

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

    17.6%
    Advisory: 718Fail: 25 (3% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    9.5%
    Advisory: 291Fail: 39 (12% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    7.9%
    Advisory: 267Fail: 57 (18% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

    5.0%
    Advisory: 201Fail: 1 (0% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Major

    Wiper does not clear the windscreen properly

    4.7%
    Advisory: 55Fail: 110 (67% of the times it was found)

Based on 2,657 MOT tests on 4-year-old Vauxhall Combo Lifes, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 4-year-old Vauxhall Combo Lifes notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelEnough data
  1. Brakes + Tyres32%
  2. Other + Tyres22%
  3. Lighting + Tyres20%
  4. Tyres + Windscreen & wipers17%

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

Across 531 MOT tests on Vauxhall Combo Life cars built around 2021 (4 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

Not enough registration data to show this for the Vauxhall Combo Life.

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.

Recall context

19 recalls in all

Includes recalls GOV.UK files under the Vauxhall Combo, the model this one is based on.

All 19 Vauxhall Combo Life recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 1 Critical
  • 18 more

Top concerns

  • Vauxhall Combo 4x4 transfer box
  • Water pump pulley
  • Vauxhall cross carline fuel injection common rail

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

Like-for-like

Other people carriers to compare

Other people carriers to compare

  1. 1

    Mercedes-Benz B-Class

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    8.2%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.5%
    Dangerous
    2.5%

    Lower fail rate: 8.2%, against 15.7% for the Vauxhall Combo Life, both built around 2021.

    6 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    2,123 MOT tests on cars built around 2021

  2. 2

    Volkswagen Touran

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    10.2%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.2%
    Dangerous
    4.1%
    Still registered at 10 years
    92.6%

    Lower fail rate: 10.2%, against 15.7% for the Vauxhall Combo Life, both built around 2021.

    3 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    1,984 MOT tests on cars built around 2021

  3. 3

    Volkswagen Caddy

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    14.4%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    2.5%
    Dangerous
    5%
    Still registered at 10 years
    88.8%

    No clear edge over the Vauxhall Combo Life on these figures.

    6,531 MOT tests on cars built around 2021

  4. 4

    Peugeot 5008

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    13.7%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    2.5%
    Dangerous
    5.9%
    Still registered at 10 years
    82.9%

    No clear edge over the Vauxhall Combo Life on these figures.

    3 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    6,174 MOT tests on cars built around 2021

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.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2021 (4 years old), the Vauxhall Combo Life across all generations combined fails MOTs noticeably more often than typical for this age. This is based on 2,657 4-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every Vauxhall Combo Life ever sold: 5,797 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2021 (4 years old): 2,657 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.