Chevrolet Astro MOT pass rate & common failures
1,371 MOT tests on the Chevrolet Astro (1988–2021) give it a 76.3% pass rate. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (24.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.7% of all tests — 4.5 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, rear fog lamp and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 114 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 22.3% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 32.5% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Astro model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 40 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Brakes |
| 1994 | 45 | 80.0% | 20.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 258 | 72.9% | 27.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 272 | 75.4% | 24.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 104 | 78.8% | 21.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 63 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 36 | 86.1% | 13.9% | Brakes |
| 2000 | 59 | 72.9% | 27.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 41 | 78.0% | 21.9% | Brakes |
| 2002 | 41 | 78.0% | 21.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 41 | 85.4% | 14.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 37 | 64.9% | 35.1% | Brakes |
| 2006 | 65 | 80.0% | 20.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 77 | 66.2% | 33.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 35 | 80.0% | 20.0% | Emissions & environmental |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 229 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.3% | 168 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 98 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.3% | 86 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.5% | 76 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.3% | 59 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 51 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.8% | 25 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 114 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 107 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 91 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 82 |
| 5 | Wipers | 52 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 52 |
| 7 | Service brake imbalance | 51 |
| 8 | Ball joint | 50 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 28.1% | 386 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.6% | 379 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 16.0% | 219 |
| 4 | Steering | 13.9% | 191 |
| 5 | Tyres | 12.6% | 172 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 147 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 197 | 22.3% |
| 60-90k | 591 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 373 | 20.9% |
| 120-150k | 112 | 27.7% |
| 150k+ | 80 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 308 | 24.0% |
| 2022 | 301 | 24.6% |
| 2023 | 270 | 23.0% |
| 2024 | 262 | 22.1% |
| 2025 | 230 | 24.8% |
What to check before buying a Chevrolet Astro
- Lighting & signalling (16.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Emissions & environmental (7.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Chevrolet Astro?
76.3% of the 1,371 Chevrolet Astro MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 23.7% fail rate, across model years 1988–2021.
What does the Chevrolet Astro most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests, then brakes (12.3%).
How much does mileage affect Astro MOT results?
Fail rates run at 22.3% for cars in the 30-60k band and 32.5% for 150k+, a 10.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,371 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.