2005 Chevrolet Kalos — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Chevrolet Kalos passed 65.9% of its 4,037 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.3 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 28.8%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (18.9%) and lighting & signalling (18.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 504 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 41.2% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 40.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.0% in 2021 to 31.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.9% | 762 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 753 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.3% | 536 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.8% | 355 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 318 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 317 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 504 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 363 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 321 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 296 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 294 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 282 |
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 | 40.7% | 1,644 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.6% | 1,153 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.5% | 1,068 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 23.0% | 930 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.1% | 731 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.7% | 593 |
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 | 136 | 16.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,447 | 30.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,662 | 36.2% |
| 90-120k | 610 | 39.0% |
| 120-150k | 131 | 35.9% |
| 150k+ | 34 | 41.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,292 | 34.0% |
| 2022 | 981 | 33.6% |
| 2023 | 801 | 35.7% |
| 2024 | 555 | 35.1% |
| 2025 | 408 | 31.1% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Kalos
On a 2005 Kalos, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (18.9% 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.
- 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.
- Brakes (13.3% 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 2005 Chevrolet Kaloss pass their MOT?
65.9% of the 4,037 2005 Chevrolet Kalos MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Chevrolet Kalos?
Suspension, recorded in 18.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.6%).
Does the 2005 Kalos get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.2% in the 0-30k band to 41.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,037 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.