Chevrolet Captiva MOT pass rate & common failures
46,770 MOT tests on the Chevrolet Captiva (2006–2020) give it a 70.4% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 23.8% of the time, so this is 5.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
Best and worst Captiva years
Ranked across Captiva years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
The strongest year on this record is 2014 (78.2% pass rate); the weakest is 2010 (68.0%). Older cars carry more of the difference than the average implies.
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.6% of tests against 13.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, stop lamp and headlamp — pins and bushes alone was recorded 2,942 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.5% in the 0-30k band and 32.6% in the 150k+ band, a 12.1-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.8% of the time against 29.6% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Captiva model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 1,682 | 70.0% | 30.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 5,303 | 68.3% | 31.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 5,291 | 68.7% | 31.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 12,115 | 68.0% | 32.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 8,067 | 69.7% | 30.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 6,561 | 73.1% | 26.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 6,638 | 74.9% | 25.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 1,089 | 78.2% | 21.8% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 8,708 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.3% | 6,218 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.2% | 5,690 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.0% | 3,261 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 3,219 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.2% | 2,893 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 2,679 |
| 8 | Steering | 3.0% | 1,389 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 2,942 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 2,856 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 2,846 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 2,383 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,300 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 2,102 |
| 7 | Brake pads | 2,071 |
| 8 | Exhaust system | 1,808 |
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 | 34.8% | 16,283 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.3% | 15,119 |
| 3 | Tyres | 31.0% | 14,495 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 23.1% | 10,792 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.0% | 9,346 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 8,116 |
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 | 253 | 20.5% |
| 30-60k | 3,719 | 23.2% |
| 60-90k | 15,069 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 17,665 | 30.9% |
| 120-150k | 7,757 | 32.3% |
| 150k+ | 2,273 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 45,999 | 29.6% |
| Petrol | 771 | 28.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,998 | 29.1% |
| 2022 | 10,969 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 9,574 | 29.6% |
| 2024 | 7,980 | 30.8% |
| 2025 | 6,249 | 29.6% |
What to check before buying a Chevrolet Captiva
- Lighting & signalling (18.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.3% 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.
- Brakes (12.2% 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.
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 Captiva?
70.4% of the 46,770 Chevrolet Captiva MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 29.6% fail rate, across model years 2006–2020.
What does the Chevrolet Captiva most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.6% of tests, then suspension (13.3%).
Which Captiva years are best and worst for MOT results?
2014 has the best pass rate at 78.2% and 2010 the weakest at 68.0%, from 1,089 and 12,115 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Captiva MOT results?
Fail rates run at 20.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 32.6% for 150k+, a 12.1-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Captiva more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 28.8% of the time against 29.6% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 46,770 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.