2012 Vauxhall Meriva MOT pass rate: 72.1% (26,213 tests)

2012-registered Vauxhall Merivas passed 72.1% of 26,213 MOT tests in 2023–2025 — broadly in line with same-age cars (71.2%). This is one of the strongest Meriva years in the age-adjusted MOT ranking, although the individual car still matters more.

72.1%Pass rate, 2012 cars

100.9Age-adjusted index (100 = average)

26,213Tests analysed

73,912 miMedian mileage at test

73.1% / 70.0%Petrol vs diesel pass rate

Is the 2012 Meriva getting worse?

Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:

Test year	Pass rate
2023	72.5% +0.1 vs same-age
2024	73.1% +2.1 vs same-age
2025	70.7% +0.4 vs same-age

The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.

What fails on a 2012 Meriva

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Suspension	5,037	31.8%
2	Brakes	2,588	16.3%
3	Tyres	2,470	15.6%
4	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	2,051	12.9%
5	Noise, emissions and leaks	1,255	7.9%
6	Visibility	909	5.7%

All Meriva years compared

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2004	5,259	55.1%	-9.2 pts	88,802
2005	7,170	54.8%	-9.6 pts	89,108
2006	11,512	55.2%	-9.2 pts	87,388
2007	13,929	57.1%	-8.1 pts	85,739
2008	15,489	57.5%	-7.6 pts	84,654
2009	15,545	59.2%	-7.2 pts	79,288
2010	28,781	65.0%	-2.4 pts	82,366
2011	43,001	70.1%	+0.9 pts	83,847
2012 (this page)	26,213	72.1%	+0.9 pts	73,912
2013	22,951	70.5%	-2.8 pts	65,094
2014	22,450	76.0%	+0.1 pts	57,364
2015	24,388	77.1%	-1.6 pts	51,967
2016	19,226	79.0%	-2.3 pts	45,084
2017	13,246	80.8%	-3.2 pts	37,962

Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Vauxhall Meriva years to avoid.

Buying a 2012 Meriva? Two checks first

Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

FAQs

Is a 2012 Vauxhall Meriva reliable?

2012-registered examples passed 72.1% of their MOT tests (26,213 tests, 2023–2025), +0.9 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 73,912 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.

What mileage is too high for a 2012 Meriva?

The median tested example shows 73,912 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.

Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2012 Meriva?

In this cohort petrols pass 73.1% of tests against 70.0% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.