2006 Chevrolet Kalos — MOT failures & pass rate
4,953 MOT tests on the 2006 Chevrolet Kalos are in this dataset, and 66.6% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail 28.2% of the time, so this is 5.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (17.3%) and lighting & signalling (16.8%) 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, pins and bushes and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 445 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 41.3% once past 120-150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.8% in 2021 to 32.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.3% | 859 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 834 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.3% | 709 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.9% | 440 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 403 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.9% | 343 |
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 | 445 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 439 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 431 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 401 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 326 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 325 |
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 | 37.4% | 1,850 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.0% | 1,438 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.2% | 1,399 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.2% | 1,051 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.1% | 947 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.6% | 723 |
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 | 326 | 21.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,754 | 30.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,906 | 34.8% |
| 90-120k | 731 | 38.7% |
| 120-150k | 206 | 41.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,578 | 34.8% |
| 2022 | 1,168 | 33.1% |
| 2023 | 940 | 32.5% |
| 2024 | 710 | 32.4% |
| 2025 | 557 | 32.9% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Kalos
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 17.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (17.3% 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 (16.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.3% 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 2006 Chevrolet Kaloss pass their MOT?
66.6% of the 4,953 2006 Chevrolet Kalos MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Chevrolet Kalos?
Suspension, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.8%).
Does the 2006 Kalos get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.2% in the 0-30k band to 41.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,953 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.