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Vauxhall Combo Life (Mk1) (2018-present) reliability

At a glance

Vauxhall Combo Life (Mk1) built around 2020: more dangerous faults than average

Testers find a dangerous fault on Vauxhall Combo Life (Mk1) models built around 2020 more often than on similar cars the same age. Look closely at the tyres on any car you view.

Looking at a Vauxhall Combo Life (Mk1) right now?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Key figure

7% of MOT tests on Vauxhall Combo Life (Mk1) models built around 2020 found a fault the tester marked as dangerous, against 5% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Vauxhall Combo Life (Mk1) models built around 2020 involves the tyres.

Vauxhall Combo Life (Mk1)
No reliability rating: not enough tests to rate2018-presentMPVDIESEL / PETROL

Based on 5,797 tests of Combo Life models registered 2018+.

About 1 in 4 diesel Combo Life cars registered in 2022 (24.6%) failed their first MOT.

Based on 784 first MOTs (DVSA MOT results, 2025).

About 1 in 50 Combo Life (Mk1) MOTs (1.8%) failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. That's for cars built around 2020 (5 years old), all fuels combined.

Based on 1,356 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025). A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted. Nor is a fail with no later MOT on record.

About 1 in 15 Combo Life (Mk1) MOTs (7.1%) found at least one dangerous defect. These are cars built around 2020 (5 years old).

Based on 1,356 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025). Dangerous is the most serious grade an MOT gives: a direct risk to road safety.

Combo Life (Mk1) fail rate by age

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for cars this age
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.

How the Combo Life (Mk1) compares

At each age below, see how the Combo Life (Mk1) holds up against other cars the same age. The averages combine all fuel types.

Based on 123,687 tests across 10 Vauxhall models, built around 2020 (5 years old).

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateVauxhall average
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.

What to check before viewing

The model's most common MOT issues, turned into things you can ask about or look for.

Independent inspection

High priority

Have an independent specialist inspect the car before you commit.

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.

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.

Other people carriers to compare

Other people carriers, with each one's figures taken at the same age as the Combo Life (Mk1).

  1. 1

    Mercedes-Benz B-Class

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    9.1%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.3%
    Dangerous
    3%

    Lower fail rate: 9.1%, against 17.5% for the Vauxhall Combo Life (Mk1), both built around 2020.

    6 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    3,744 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

  2. 2

    Volkswagen Touran

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    10.8%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.1%
    Dangerous
    5.1%
    Still registered at 10 years
    92.6%

    Lower fail rate: 10.8%, against 17.5% for the Vauxhall Combo Life (Mk1), both built around 2020.

    3 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    2,454 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

  3. 3

    Ford Tourneo

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    16.5%
    Still registered at 10 years
    89.2%

    No clear edge over the Vauxhall Combo Life (Mk1) on these figures.

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

    1,449 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

  4. 4

    Volkswagen Sharan

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    12.4%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.4%
    Dangerous
    5%
    Still registered at 10 years
    89.2%

    Lower fail rate: 12.4%, against 17.5% for the Vauxhall Combo Life (Mk1), both built around 2020.

    6 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    3,837 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

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.

Recall context

19 recalls in all

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

All 19 Combo Life (Mk1) 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.

How Combo Life (Mk1) cars have aged

How Combo Life (Mk1) cars have aged

How fail rates have changed as these cars got older. Each line follows cars first registered in about the same year across several years of MOT data. Not a prediction for any one car.

Some lines cover only a year or two, so read this as a rough guide.

0%10%20%3456Age at MOTBuilt around 2021, 3 years old at the time of MOT: 16.8% (1,457 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2021, 4 years old at the time of MOT: 16.1% (1,448 tests, 2025 data)2021Built around 2020, 3 years old at the time of MOT: 18.2% (1,228 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2020, 4 years old at the time of MOT: 15.9% (1,097 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2020, 5 years old at the time of MOT: 17.0% (1,109 tests, 2025 data)2020Built around 2019, 3 years old at the time of MOT: 10.9% (128 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2019, 4 years old at the time of MOT: 15.7% (108 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2019, 5 years old at the time of MOT: 16.2% (105 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2019, 6 years old at the time of MOT: 20.4% (98 tests, 2025 data)2019
First registered around 2021First registered around 2020First registered around 2019
All generations of this modelEnough data

Most common issues on Vauxhall Combo Lifes of this age

This list covers every Vauxhall Combo Life built around 2020, whichever generation it is. We don't have a defect list for the Combo Life (Mk1) on its own.

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

    21.2%
    Advisory: 434Fail: 58 (12% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    13.9%
    Advisory: 204Fail: 55 (21% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    6.6%
    Advisory: 103Fail: 27 (21% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

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

    5.0%
    Advisory: 90Fail: 2 (2% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, but not excessively

    3.1%
    Advisory: 54Fail: 9 (14% of the times it was found)

Based on 1,356 tests

Looking at a Vauxhall Combo Life (Mk1) right now?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2020 (5 years old), the Vauxhall Combo Life (Mk1) (2018-present) fails MOTs noticeably more often than typical for this age. This is based on 1,356 5-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

*The build year is worked out from the date a car was first used on UK roads. For most cars this matches when it was registered, but imports may differ by a few months.

Data sourced from DVSA MOT History API. From 5,797 MOT tests on Vauxhall Combo Lifes first registered from 2018. These figures are a guide, not a guarantee.