The Fiesta. Once age and mileage are allowed for, Fiestas pass the MOT first time 3.7 points more often than Corsas. No registration year of either passes 1.5 or more points more often than the average car. Avoid Fiestas registered from 2005 to 2017, and Corsas registered from 2005 onwards.
| Ford Fiesta | Vauxhall Corsa | |
|---|---|---|
| Passed first time, cars registered 2014 to 2021 | 73.2% | 70.1% |
| Against the average car of the same age and mileage | −4.9 points | −8.6 points |
| Years to avoid | 2005 to 2017 | 2005 to 2022 |
| Best years | None stand out | None stand out |
| Fails most often, against the average car | Steering: 1.8 times as often | Steering: 2.8 times as often |
| Most common failure | Brake lights: not working | Coil springs: fractured or broken |
| MOTs in 2025 | 1,317,082 | 874,895 |
How often cars from each registration year passed the MOT first time, against the average car of the same age and mileage. The figure is the difference in percentage points.
Each block is a registration year: the year the car was first used. Tap or hover over one for its figures. Blank means too few MOTs that year.
Points against the average car of the same age and mileage, with each year's most common failure. Less than 1.5 points apart counts as either.
| Registered | Fiesta | Corsa | Better bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | −5.3Brake lights (not working) | −9.8Drive shaft joints and CV boots (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) | Fiesta |
| 2006 | −5.2Brake lights (not working) | −9.6Drive shaft joints and CV boots (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) | Fiesta |
| 2007 | −5.0Brake lights (not working) | −5.9Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Either |
| 2008 | −5.2Brake lights (not working) | −4.8Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Either |
| 2009 | −4.6Ball joint excessively worn | −4.5Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Either |
| 2010 | −4.3Ball joint excessively worn | −5.8Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Fiesta |
| 2011 | −4.3Ball joint excessively worn | −5.7Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Either |
| 2012 | −6.0Ball joint excessively worn | −7.3Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Either |
| 2013 | −6.3Ball joint excessively worn | −8.3Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Fiesta |
| 2014 | −7.6Brake lights (not working) | −12.7Track rod ends (ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) | Fiesta |
| 2015 | −8.5Brake lights (not working) | −9.4Track rod ends (ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) | Either |
| 2016 | −8.9Brake lights (not working) | −9.5Track rod ends (ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) | Either |
| 2017 | −5.3Brake lights (not working) | −11.3Track rod ends (ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) | Fiesta |
| 2018 | +0.6Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | −9.5Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Fiesta |
| 2019 | +0.0Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | −4.8Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Fiesta |
| 2020 | −1.0Headlight aim (too low) | −2.0Windscreen wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) | Either |
| 2021 | +0.1Headlight aim (too low) | −6.0Windscreen wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) | Fiesta |
| 2022 | +1.2Tyre damage (has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords) | −3.6Windscreen wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) | Fiesta |
How often each passed the MOT first time against the average car of the same age and mileage, in points. Over 120,000 miles: Fiestas 8.9 points below the average car of the same age and mileage, Corsas 7.8 points below.
| Fiesta | Corsa | Better bet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30k miles | +0.3 | −5.9 | Fiesta |
| 30–60k miles | −2.8 | −7.8 | Fiesta |
| 60–90k miles | −6.6 | −8.2 | Fiesta |
| 90–120k miles | −7.5 | −7.3 | Either |
| 120k+ miles | −8.9 | −7.8 | Either |
| Fiesta | Corsa | Better bet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | −4.6 | −7.7 | Fiesta |
| Diesel | −7.0 | −5.4 | Corsa |
Each fuel is compared with the average car of the same age and mileage, whatever its fuel. Rows with fewer than 500 MOTs for either car are left out.
How often each failed on every area of the test, against the average car of the same age and mileage. All registration years.
| Area | Fiesta: failed | Against average | Corsa: failed | Against average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 12.3% | 1.2× | 12.4% | 1.4× |
| Steering | 3.8% | 1.8× | 5.2% | 2.8× |
| Brakes | 5.0% | 0.8× | 6.3% | 1.1× |
| Tyres | 8.0% | 1.3× | 6.4% | 1.0× |
| Lights & electrics | 16.2% | 1.4× | 13.4% | 1.3× |
| Visibility | 4.6% | 1.0× | 6.2% | 1.5× |
| Body & structure | 3.4% | 1.0× | 3.6% | 1.2× |
| Emissions & leaks | 4.0% | 1.3× | 4.7% | 1.6× |
The failures testers found most often on each, against the average car of the same age and mileage. Both charts use the same scale.
What testers most often noted as advisories on each: wear that passed but was close to failing. Figures in brackets are for the average car of the same age and mileage.
The Fiesta
For cars registered 2014 to 2021, Fiestas passed the MOT first time 4.9 points below the average car of the same age and mileage and Corsas 8.6 points below: 3.7 points between them.
−4.9points against the average car of the same age and mileage
−8.6points against the average car of the same age and mileage
Going by the MOT, the Fiesta is. For cars registered 2014 to 2021, 73.2% of Fiestas passed first time, 4.9 points below the average car of the same age and mileage, against 70.1% of Corsas, 8.6 points below.
Going by 2025 MOT results, 2005 to 2017. Those cars passed first time −5.2 to −5.3 and −5.0 and −5.2 and −4.3 to −4.6 and −5.3 to −8.9 points against the average car of the same age and mileage.
Going by 2025 MOT results, 2005 to 2022. Those cars passed first time −5.9 to −9.8 and −4.5 to −4.8 and −5.7 to −12.7 and −2.0 to −4.8 and −6.0 and −3.6 points against the average car of the same age and mileage.
Over 120,000 miles: Fiestas 8.9 points below the average car of the same age and mileage, Corsas 7.8 points below. That's less than 1.5 points apart.
Fiesta: brake lights (not working), on 6.2% of MOTs against 2.1% for the average car of the same age and mileage. Corsa: coil springs (fractured or broken), on 6.2% of MOTs against 2.6% for the average car of the same age and mileage.
Data. Every car MOT in Great Britain in 2025, from DVSA's anonymised MOT test data: 1,317,082 Fiesta MOTs and 874,895 Corsa MOTs. Retests are left out.
Against the average car. Each model is compared with the average car of the same age and mileage, not with each other directly, so a newer or lower-mileage model doesn't win for that alone.
Which is more reliable. The answer uses cars registered 2014 to 2021, the same years for both, as the rivals table on each model page does. Less than 1.5 points apart counts as level.