Used buying checklist
Vauxhall Adam reliability, common problems and used buying checks
A used Vauxhall Adam looks about average for reliability in UK MOT data: 18.3% of 72,210 tests failed, compared with 18.7% across all indexed models. A good example should have a clean MOT history for suspension and steering, windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, and corrosion and structure.
It can be, if the exact car has a clean history for suspension and steering, windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, and corrosion and structure.
Start with suspension and steering, windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, and corrosion and structure, then compare the car's mileage and recall record below.
Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). MOT data does not capture every reliability issue, especially intermittent engine, gearbox or infotainment faults that do not appear during the test.
- 18.3% MOT failure rate
- Median tested mileage 44,477 miles
- 13,197 failed MOT tests analysed
Suspension and steering is the clearest area to check
Suspension and steering is the clearest named problem area in this model's MOT history (15.6 MOT notes per 100 tests). Example MOT phrases from this area include ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt, ball joint excessively worn, and play in steering rack inner joint(s).
Example MOT phrases to search in the car's history:
- ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt
- ball joint excessively worn
- Play in steering rack inner joint(s)
- ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
- provides insufficient washer liquid
- damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view
- does not clear the windscreen effectively
- Items removed from drivers view prior to test
- excessively corroded
- corroded and seriously weakened
Focus on suspension and steering, windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, and corrosion and structure
The model's recorded failure rate is 18.3%, -0.4 percentage points compared with the average across all models. Use the seller questions below to check whether repeat MOT notes have actually been repaired.
- MOT tests analysed72,210 tests
- Median tested mileage44,477 miles
- Failed MOT tests13,197
Should you buy a used Vauxhall Adam?
81.7% of the MOT tests we analysed for this model passed. The model's recorded failure rate is 18.3%, -0.4 percentage points compared with the average across all models. This is a buying brief for the exact car in front of you: clean repeat history matters more than badge reputation.
- Repeat unresolved MOT notes for suspension and steering, windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, and corrosion and structure
- suspension and steering appearing across more than one MOT
- Any dangerous MOT failure on the exact car, especially if the same area appears again later
- No paperwork showing applicable recall work has been completed
- A seller who cannot explain MOT wording such as "ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt"
It can be, if the exact car has a clean history for suspension and steering, windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, and corrosion and structure.
Start with suspension and steering, windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, and corrosion and structure, then compare the car's mileage and recall record below.
Suspension and steering is the clearest named problem area in the MOT history (15.6 MOT notes per 100 tests). These counts are issue notes, not failure rates, because a single MOT can list several faults.
Past 100k miles on the Vauxhall Adam, MOT records most often point to suspension and steering, emissions, engine, and exhaust, and corrosion and structure.
The MOT failure rate rises from 12.4% at 3-6 years to 22.8% at 10-15 years. Compare the car with the nearest age range before treating a fault as normal wear or a warning sign. The average MOT failure rate across all models in the same dataset is 18.7%.
Start with suspension and steering, windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, corrosion and structure, and lights and electrical. The checklist on this page explains why each area is being recommended, what to inspect, and what to ask the seller.
6 relevant recall notices appear for this model. Treat them as safety checks to verify for the exact car, not as normal MOT wear.
What should I check first?
Start with suspension and steering, windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, corrosion and structure, and lights and electrical. The checklist on this page explains why each area is being recommended, what to inspect, and what to ask the seller. Each item shows whether it comes from MOT results, recall notices, or a standard used-car check.
-
Suspension and steering Seen in MOT results
Suspension and steering is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (15.6 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Listen for knocks, check uneven tyre wear, and inspect steering play.
-
Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors Seen in MOT results
Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (7.4 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check windscreen damage, wiper operation, washers, mirrors, and demisting.
-
Corrosion and structure Seen in MOT results
Corrosion and structure is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (6.3 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Inspect sills, subframes, mounting points, arches, and underside corrosion advisories.
-
Lights and electrical Seen in MOT results
Lights and electrical is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (4.4 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check every lamp, warning light, horn, battery condition, and dashboard messages.
-
Emissions, engine, and exhaust Seen in MOT results
Emissions, engine, and exhaust is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (4.2 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check warning lights, smoke, exhaust leaks, recent emissions failures, and service history.
-
Tyres and wheels Seen in MOT results
Tyres and wheels is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (2.6 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check tyre age, tread depth, sidewall damage, wheel condition, and alignment wear.
What changes with mileage?
Past 100k miles on the Vauxhall Adam, MOT records most often point to suspension and steering, emissions, engine, and exhaust, and corrosion and structure.
Common MOT problem areas
Common faults: what usually fails on this model?
Suspension and steering is the clearest named problem area in the MOT history (15.6 MOT notes per 100 tests). These counts are issue notes, not failure rates, because a single MOT can list several faults.
Recall-related areas to verify
Official recall areas
Manufacturer recall notices for the Vauxhall Adam mainly involve 6 areas: suspension and steering, tyres and wheels, brakes, and emissions, engine, and exhaust. Treat each as something to verify on the specific car you are viewing; the recall table below shows the official notice text.
Mileage and age checks
Mileage changes: what starts showing up after high mileage?
Past 100k miles on the Vauxhall Adam, MOT records most often point to suspension and steering, emissions, engine, and exhaust, and corrosion and structure. On lower-mileage cars, the most common named areas are suspension and steering, windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, and corrosion and structure.
| Mileage range | Tests | Vehicles | Failure rate (vs all models) | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-50k | 42,868 | 35,281 | 15.4%+4.5 percentage points vs all models | 33,099 miles |
| 50-100k | 27,668 | 20,768 | 22.5%+1.8 percentage points vs all models | 63,391 miles |
| 100-150k | 1,393 | 1,020 | 26.3%+0.1 percentage points vs all models | 109,207 miles |
| 150-200k | 40 | 28 | 30.0%+2.7 percentage points vs all models | 159,330 miles |
| 200k+ | 4 | 3 | 25.0%-1.6 percentage points vs all models | 206,177 miles |
Problem areas by mileage
Past 100k miles on the Vauxhall Adam, MOT records most often point to suspension and steering, emissions, engine, and exhaust, and corrosion and structure.
| Mileage range | Car areas most often recorded | Specific MOT defect examples |
|---|---|---|
| 0-50k |
|
|
| 50-100k |
|
|
| 100-150k |
|
|
| 150-200k |
|
|
| 200k+ |
|
|
Fair comparisons: is this problem normal for its age?
The MOT failure rate rises from 12.4% at 3-6 years to 22.8% at 10-15 years. Compare the car with the nearest age range before treating a fault as normal wear or a warning sign. The average MOT failure rate across all models in the same dataset is 18.7%. The highest failure rate by age is 22.8% for 10-15 years cars, based on 4,065 tests.
| Age range | Tests | Vehicles | Failure rate (vs all models) | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-6 years 2020–2023 reg. |
16,524 | 14,132 | 12.4%+1.9 percentage points vs all models | 5.0 years |
| 6-10 years 2016–2020 reg. |
51,621 | 40,287 | 19.8%+3.2 percentage points vs all models | 8.2 years |
| 10-15 years 2011–2016 reg. |
4,065 | 3,062 | 22.8%-0.7 percentage points vs all models | 10.2 years |
Recall records and data freshness
Recall context: are there safety notices to know about?
6 relevant recall notices appear for this model. Treat them as safety checks to verify for the exact car, not as normal MOT wear.
| 2019-04-08 | THE LAMBDA CONTROL MIGHT NOT BE ROBUST/PRECISE ENOUGH AT HIGH SPEED lambda control may result in NOx limit being exceeded during the vehicle lifetime. An engine management system software upgrade will be installed. |
|---|---|
| 2017-04-20 | SUNROOF GLASS PANEL INSECURE A deviation in the supplier manufacturing printing process on the glass panel caused may cause a loss of adhesion over vehicle lifetime. This may cause the sunroof panel to detach. On affected vehicles rework the adhesive connection between the sunroof panel and the vehicle body. |
| 2017-04-20 | SUNROOF GLASS MAY DETACH A deviation in the supplier manufacturing printing process caused a high viscosity in the black print which might lead to a loss of adhesion over vehicle lifetime. Until such time a final remedy is determined affected vehicles will have additional fixation added to secure the glass roof to the vehicle.as an interim measure |
| 2017-03-27 | HANDBRAKE MAY DISENGAGE Due to a possible contamination of the tooth segment the handbrake pawl may not latch correctly. This may cause the handbrake to disengage. On affected vehicles Replace the parking brake lever assembly. |
| 2017-03-17 | DRIVERS AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY The driver's air bag may not deploy as intended On affected vehicles replace the airbag module assembly |
| 2017-02-13 | STEERING RACK MAY FRACTURE Due to a manufacturing process deviation the toothed rack of the steering gear might break under extensive force application i.e. when manoeuvring at slow speed. Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and check the build date of the steering rack. Where the steering rack is proved to be from the affected batch the steering rack will be replaced. |
Related searches
Common ways people look up the Vauxhall Adam. Each link runs the search and lands on the relevant section of this report.
Related reliability guides
See where this model sits against other Vauxhall reports by MOT failure rate and common problem area.
Compare high-confidence model reports across all makes.
Use the fleet mileage baseline before checking this model's own mileage table.
Compare this model's age pattern with the wider MOT baseline.
Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). These are patterns from many MOT tests and recall notices. They help you decide what to inspect and what to ask; they do not certify the condition of one specific car.