2017 Vauxhall Viva MOT pass rate: 88.0% (28,725 tests)
Is the 2017 Viva getting worse?
Pass rate of 2017-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 90.5% +4.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 88.3% +4.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 85.3% +2.9 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 2017 Viva
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2,192 | 35.3% |
| 2 | Suspension | 1,079 | 17.4% |
| 3 | Visibility | 877 | 14.1% |
| 4 | Brakes | 663 | 10.7% |
| 5 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 442 | 7.1% |
| 6 | Body, chassis, structure | 399 | 6.4% |
All Viva years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 15,183 | 81.7% | +3.0 pts | 41,102 |
| 2016 | 40,955 | 84.3% | +3.0 pts | 38,362 |
| 2017 (this page) | 28,725 | 88.0% | +4.0 pts | 32,783 |
| 2018 | 16,113 | 90.1% | +3.8 pts | 26,669 |
| 2019 | 12,025 | 91.1% | +2.7 pts | 21,517 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Vauxhall Viva years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2017 Vauxhall Viva reliable?
2017-registered examples passed 88.0% of their MOT tests (28,725 tests, 2023–2025), +4.0 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 9 years old with a median 32,783 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2017 Viva?
The median tested example shows 32,783 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.
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.