Vauxhall Corsa is most scrapped car

Sourcing data from FixMyCar, it appears that some models were recalled in 2015 for loss of steering control and loss of stability, while other issues such as misfiring engines and worn clutches have been more commonly reported.

The Ford Fiesta, Britain’s best-selling car, ranks second for the highest scrap rate. Ford announced the discontinuation of its popular Fiesta model in the summer of 2023, with the final Ford Fiesta rolling off the production line in July 2023.

With parts becoming harder to come-by and with so many Fiestas still on the roads, it’s unsurprising that they ranked among the most scrapped vehicles. The older models have also been targets of thieves who take them to break up and sell on components.

Commonly reported problems include turbo failure, water leaks and suspension problems while a series of models from 2014 were recalled due to fuel pump failures and fuel tank leaks.

The fifth most scrapped 2014 model was the Volkswagen Golf, with 1,276 reported as scrapped.

Dorry Potter, vehicle expert at National Scrap Car said, “As these vehicles age, the cost of maintaining and repairing them often exceeds their market value, leading owners to scrap them rather than invest in costly repairs.

“Older models may lack modern safety features and fuel efficiency, prompting owners to upgrade to newer vehicles. Vehicles like the Corsa and Fiesta have an appeal to new and younger drivers, who are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents, which can also result in a higher rate of write-offs and subsequent scrappage.”

Our data shows a clear trend: manufacturers with higher sales volumes have a higher number of vehicles on the road, which subsequently results in more vehicles being scrapped.

These brands also cater to a broad market segment, including entry-level and mid-range consumers who are often more inclined to replace their vehicles more frequently rather than investing in long-term maintenance.

In contrast, manufacturers with the fewest scrapped vehicles include Jaguar, with only 29 of their 2014 registered vehicles scrapped during this time period, followed by 40 Jeep models and 44 Porsche models.