Fault File
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Vauxhall Mokka

All generations and engines together · 236,521 MOT tests in the 2025 data · typical mileage at age 7: 52k

First-time failure at age 7
31.3%
Across 33,810 tests. The average across all tracked models is 19.5%.
Rank at age 7
224 of 239
1 = lowest failure rate among the models tracked.
Typical mileage at age 7
52k miles
Check the mileage view below; low-mileage models can look better by age than they are.

Generation

Split by first-registration year. Cars registered in a changeover year can belong to either generation.

How this model wears

Vauxhall MokkaClass average, all tracked models

Known issues

Measured

Computed from DVSA MOT results, all of Great Britain, 2025. Nothing here is opinion.

What testers flag

Share of tests where each item was recorded. The dark tick is the class average across all tracked models; bars are scaled within each group.

Faults with the car itself

The rows that judge the model rather than its keeper. 141,710 tests in this band.

A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
Fail
12.0%class 0.3%
Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
Advisory
7.8%class 2.0%
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
Minor
7.8%class 0.6%
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Fail
7.0%class 1.4%
Exhaust system leaking or insecure
Advisory
6.0%class 0.6%
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
Advisory
5.2%class 6.0%
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Fail
3.7%class 1.3%
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
Fail
2.2%class 0.5%
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
Fail
2.0%class 0.4%
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
Fail
1.9%class 0.8%

Wear, upkeep and luck

Tyres, pads and stone chips say more about how the car was driven and maintained than about how it was built.

A tyre seriously damaged
Advisory
19.5%class 11.1%
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Advisory
19.0%class 22.9%
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
Advisory
11.9%class 8.7%
Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured
Advisory
8.0%class 10.1%
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Fail
4.1%class 1.7%
A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative
Fail
4.1%class 0.9%
Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
Advisory
3.8%class 3.4%
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
Fail
3.2%class 1.6%

Unconfirmed issues

Reported

Owner folklore from forums and the motoring press. Most of it never shows up in an MOT, which is why this section exists at all.

Clutch and dual-mass flywheel failure, often at low mileage

Confirmed pattern

Owners of the 1.4T petrol and 1.6/1.7 diesel Mokka repeatedly report the clutch and dual-mass flywheel (DMF) wearing out or failing well before you'd expect, sometimes as low as 9,000-16,000 miles, other times 30-40,000. Stop-start systems get blamed, since the heavy load of restarting the engine wears the DMF faster than normal driving. Symptoms are a vibration through the clutch pedal, a rattly idle, or the pedal suddenly going light or hard. A full clutch and DMF replacement runs roughly £850-£1,700.

Reported 9k-40k miles · sources: Honest John Back Room forum, Mokka Owners Club forum

1.4 turbo petrol timing chain stretch and rattle

Emerging

The 1.4 turbo petrol engine fitted to the first-generation Mokka and Mokka X is prone to timing chain stretch, with the tensioner and guides wearing so the chain slaps around inside the timing case. The giveaway is a metallic rattle on cold start that fades once the oil pressure builds, worsening over time. It tends to show from around 60-100k miles, more so on cars used for lots of short trips. Left alone it can jump timing and wreck the engine internally; a chain and guide job typically costs £600-£1,800 depending on how much damage has already been done.

Reported 60-100k miles · sources: Mokka Owners Club forum, independent garage write-ups (Star Garage Mansfield)

Front suspension knocks and creaks from worn top mounts

Partly in the MOT data

A long-running owner complaint on both generations: a knock or creak from the front end over bumps or when pulling away, traced to worn strut top mounts and bushes. This lines up with the measured MOT data, where suspension is the standout fault for this model versus the small-SUV class. It's a cheap part, £10-£40 for the mount itself, but labour and the fact it can recur on the same car pushes real-world bills higher, often in the £150-£300 range per side.

Reported from 20k miles, worse by 60k+ · sources: Vauxhall Mokka Owners Club forum, Vauxhall Owners Network forum, measured MOT signature fault data

DPF clogging on short-trip diesels

Emerging

Diesel Mokkas (1.6 and 1.7 CDTi) need a decent run at speed every so often to let the diesel particulate filter regenerate and burn off soot. Cars used mainly for short urban journeys clog the DPF, sometimes surprisingly early, with one documented case needing a forced regeneration by 2,400 miles. Warning signs are a DPF or engine light, sluggish power, and a smell of diesel from the exhaust. A forced regen at a garage costs upwards of £150-£300; a full DPF replacement, if it's gone too far, can run over £1,000.

Can appear under 5k miles on short-trip cars · sources: Honest John owner reports, Mokka Owners Club forum

Infotainment freezes and software glitches

Disputed

Owners of both older and newer Mokkas report the touchscreen freezing, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay dropping out, or the reversing camera hanging, usually cleared by holding two buttons to force a reboot or by a dealer software update. It's annoying rather than costly and doesn't strand anyone, and opinion is split on how common it really is versus normal infotainment teething trouble seen across the industry. No parts cost involved if a software update fixes it, though a dealer visit may be needed.

Reported across ownership, no clear mileage pattern · sources: Mokka Owners Club forum, Vauxhall Owners Club forum

6-speed automatic gearbox: hesitant or jerky shifts

Automatics only

Automatic Mokkas, mostly the 6-speed torque converter box rather than a dual-clutch unit, have owner reports of delayed, jerky or slipping shifts, plus at least one documented servo valve box failure with a long parts wait. Causes cited include worn solenoids and old or contaminated transmission fluid. Have the fluid and filter history checked on any auto you're viewing; a service or solenoid repair is a few hundred pounds, a full valve body or unit replacement considerably more. Doesn't apply to manual cars.

Shown because autos are a distinct risk group · sources: Honest John owner reports, Autodoc technical write-up

Viewing one? Ask this

Built from the two sections above.

Start the engine stone cold and listen for a few seconds before it settles. A metallic rattle that fades as oil pressure builds points to timing chain wear on the 1.4 turbo petrol.
Press the clutch pedal and feel for vibration or an odd bite point, then take it up a hill in a low gear. Pedal vibration or a rattly idle at a standstill suggests the dual-mass flywheel is on its way out.
Get the car up on a ramp or lean on each front corner and listen for creaks; check the MOT history for suspension advisories. Knocks over bumps or repeat suspension advisories mean the top mounts and bushes are due, and this model runs worse than average here.
On a diesel, ask how the car is normally used and check for a recent forced-regeneration invoice. A car that's done nothing but short school-run trips is a DPF-clogging risk; no service history on this points to trouble ahead.
Play with the touchscreen, camera and CarPlay/Android Auto for a few minutes at the viewing. Freezing, dropouts or a black screen show up quickly and are worth a haggle even if not expensive to fix.
On an automatic, take a test drive that includes a full stop-start sequence and a gentle hill. Hesitation, jerks or a flare before a gear change means the box needs looking at before you buy.
Check the recall history against the VIN, especially on early Mokka X cars. An outstanding steering wheel bolt or steering rack recall should be sorted free at a dealer before you drive it hard.

Others in its class

Same segment (Small SUVs), best MOT record first. Compare before you shortlist.

How it compares

Head to head with the other popular cars in its class on reliability and common faults.