2012 Chevrolet Captiva — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,561 MOT tests, the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva recorded a 73.1% pass rate. That is 5.1 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 21.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.8% of all tests — 8.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, pins and bushes and stop lamp — headlamp alone was recorded 534 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.2% in the 0-30k band and 24.2% in the 150k+ band, a 14.0-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 30.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 1,171 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.5% | 624 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.2% | 602 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.6% | 431 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 392 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 327 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 534 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 347 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 339 |
| 4 | Side repeaters | 302 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 294 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 276 |
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 | 30.6% | 2,010 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 30.1% | 1,975 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.2% | 1,917 |
| 4 | Brakes | 29.2% | 1,914 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 1,134 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.1% | 858 |
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 | 49 | 10.2% |
| 30-60k | 779 | 22.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,785 | 26.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,268 | 28.8% |
| 120-150k | 558 | 28.3% |
| 150k+ | 120 | 24.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,501 | 26.9% |
| Petrol | 60 | 23.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,612 | 26.2% |
| 2022 | 1,475 | 25.8% |
| 2023 | 1,363 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 1,165 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 946 | 27.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Captiva
On a 2012 Captiva, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.5% 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 (9.2% 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 2012 Chevrolet Captivas pass their MOT?
73.1% of the 6,561 2012 Chevrolet Captiva MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Chevrolet Captiva?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by brakes (9.5%).
Does the 2012 Captiva get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.2% in the 0-30k band to 24.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,561 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.