2013 Chevrolet Aveo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Chevrolet Aveo passed 72.5% of its 8,782 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 21.0% of the time, so this is 6.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 19.9% of all tests — 9.3 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, ball joint dust cover and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 1,039 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 34.2% versus 19.1%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.9pp more often than petrol ones (29.8% vs 26.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 30.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.9% | 1,750 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 933 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.5% | 391 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 372 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 347 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 324 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,039 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 548 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 411 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 339 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 327 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 298 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 30.2% | 2,653 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.5% | 2,419 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 15.4% | 1,357 |
| 4 | Brakes | 12.3% | 1,078 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.1% | 1,059 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.9% | 1,045 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 822 | 19.1% |
| 30-60k | 3,241 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 3,131 | 29.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,238 | 31.7% |
| 120-150k | 269 | 35.7% |
| 150k+ | 79 | 34.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 7,110 | 26.9% |
| Diesel | 1,666 | 29.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,858 | 26.4% |
| 2022 | 1,848 | 26.5% |
| 2023 | 1,815 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 1,715 | 28.9% |
| 2025 | 1,546 | 27.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Aveo
On a 2013 Aveo, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (19.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2013 Chevrolet Aveos pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 8,782 2013 Chevrolet Aveo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Chevrolet Aveo?
Suspension, recorded in 19.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.6%).
Does the 2013 Aveo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 0-30k band to 34.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,782 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.