2007 Chevrolet Captiva — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,682 MOT tests, the 2007 Chevrolet Captiva recorded a 70.0% pass rate. That is 2.7 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 27.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.3% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are exhaust system, stop lamp and pins and bushes — exhaust system alone was recorded 115 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 31.1% versus 20.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.9% in 2021 to 25.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.3% | 308 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.6% | 229 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.1% | 221 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 156 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.3% | 123 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 115 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exhaust system | 115 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 103 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 99 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 98 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 91 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 82 |
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 | 37.3% | 628 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.1% | 556 |
| 3 | Tyres | 31.3% | 526 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.7% | 482 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 24.9% | 419 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 19.0% | 320 |
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 | 78 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 356 | 28.6% |
| 90-120k | 704 | 30.4% |
| 120-150k | 390 | 31.5% |
| 150k+ | 151 | 31.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,568 | 30.1% |
| Petrol | 114 | 28.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 559 | 30.9% |
| 2022 | 453 | 30.0% |
| 2023 | 327 | 31.5% |
| 2024 | 208 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 135 | 25.2% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Captiva
On a 2007 Captiva, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.6% 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.
- Suspension (13.1% 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.
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 2007 Chevrolet Captivas pass their MOT?
70.0% of the 1,682 2007 Chevrolet Captiva MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Chevrolet Captiva?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.3% of tests, followed by brakes (13.6%).
Does the 2007 Captiva get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.5% in the 30-60k band to 31.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,682 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.