2014 Chevrolet Captiva — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Chevrolet Captiva passed 78.2% of its 1,089 recorded MOT tests. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 17.8% of the time, so this is 4.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.6% of all tests — 5.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, pins and bushes and tread depth — headlamp alone was recorded 78 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.8% once past 120-150k — 2.1× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 137 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.2% | 78 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.5% | 60 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.3% | 58 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 49 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 25 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 78 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 49 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 48 |
| 4 | Wipers | 42 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 40 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 35 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 27.8% | 303 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.8% | 270 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 21.5% | 234 |
| 4 | Suspension | 20.3% | 221 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 176 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.0% | 152 |
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 | 31 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 205 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 509 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 265 | 21.1% |
| 120-150k | 53 | 20.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 232 | 21.1% |
| 2022 | 230 | 20.0% |
| 2023 | 217 | 19.4% |
| 2024 | 213 | 24.9% |
| 2025 | 197 | 23.9% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Captiva
On a 2014 Captiva, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.2% 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.
- Brakes (5.5% 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.
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 2014 Chevrolet Captivas pass their MOT?
78.2% of the 1,089 2014 Chevrolet Captiva MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Chevrolet Captiva?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.6% of tests, followed by suspension (7.2%).
Does the 2014 Captiva get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 20.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,089 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.