2014 Chevrolet Cruze — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,072 MOT tests, the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze recorded a 78.8% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 17.3% of the time, so this is 3.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.9% of tests against 8.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and brake pads — coil spring alone was recorded 244 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.0% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 21.0% of the time against 21.6% for petrol.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 395 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.0% | 247 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.0% | 186 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.7% | 175 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.1% | 156 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 131 |
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 | 244 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 208 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 125 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 122 |
| 5 | Wipers | 120 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 117 |
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 | 26.8% | 823 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.7% | 697 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 10.6% | 326 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.6% | 325 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 321 |
| 6 | Suspension | 7.8% | 240 |
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 | 180 | 11.7% |
| 30-60k | 886 | 16.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,103 | 22.9% |
| 90-120k | 585 | 25.5% |
| 120-150k | 218 | 25.2% |
| 150k+ | 100 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,756 | 21.0% |
| Petrol | 1,316 | 21.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 660 | 18.5% |
| 2022 | 620 | 18.1% |
| 2023 | 651 | 23.5% |
| 2024 | 594 | 21.6% |
| 2025 | 547 | 25.1% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Cruze
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.0% 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 (6.0% 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 Cruzes pass their MOT?
78.8% of the 3,072 2014 Chevrolet Cruze MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.9% of tests, followed by suspension (8.0%).
Does the 2014 Cruze get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.7% in the 0-30k band to 25.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,072 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.