Used car guide

2022 Vauxhall Astra petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Vauxhall Astra first registered in 2022 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 2,364 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,364MOTs of 2022 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
90%pass first time (all 2022 cars: 89%)
7,000typical miles a year
24%had tyres flagged

Common 2022 Vauxhall Astra petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2022 Vauxhall Astra petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    24% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    9% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    3% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Lights and electrics
    3% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

  • Suspension
    1% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

Known faults on the 2022 Vauxhall Astra petrol

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Timing belt that runs in oil (PureTech petrol)

    1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol

    The 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol engines use a timing belt that runs in the engine oil (a “wet belt”). It can break down early and shed rubber that blocks the oil supply, which can wreck the engine. Some also burn too much oil. Stellantis now covers earlier engines for belt and oil-burning problems for up to 10 years or 112,000 miles, as long as the car has been serviced on schedule.

    At the viewing: Ask for a full service history showing the right oil, and when the belt was last checked or changed. Check the oil level on the dipstick, and that no oil-pressure or engine warning light stays on.

    Source: Parkers: Stellantis wet belt compensation, and the cars at risk, Stellantis: compensation policy for earlier PureTech 1.0 and 1.2 engines (7 May 2025)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2022 Vauxhall Astra petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. When was the timing belt last checked or changed, and has it had the right oil at every service? Is the car still within Stellantis’ extended PureTech cover?
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Vauxhall Astra?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Vauxhall Astra compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023217Tyres 12%
202111,821Tyres 22%
202018,903Tyres 22%
201962,909Tyres 26%
201889,577Tyres 30%
2017137,261Tyres 32%
2016167,049Tyres 33%
2015140,327Tyres 34%
2014154,957Tyres 35%
2013171,024Tyres 36%
2012150,456Tyres 36%
2011131,828Tyres 37%
2010147,017Suspension 41%
2009109,313Suspension 48%
2008110,932Suspension 49%
2007109,840Suspension 50%
200668,175Suspension 53%
200545,866Suspension 52%
200424,837Brakes 49%
200322,533Brakes 51%
200217,225Brakes 53%
20019,770Brakes 51%
20005,239Brakes 51%
19993,204Brakes 47%
19981,654Brakes 44%
19971,588Suspension 44%
1996877Suspension 47%
19951,013Suspension 42%
1994666Suspension 37%
1993501Suspension 33%
1992233Suspension 24%
1991321Brakes 21%
1990348Suspension 18%
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests
1981–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Vauxhall Astra cars first registered in 2022. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score