2008 Chevrolet Kalos — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,760 MOT tests, the 2008 Chevrolet Kalos recorded a 67.1% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail 26.8% of the time, so this is 6.1pp 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 (17.2%) and lighting & signalling (15.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and track rod end — pins and bushes alone was recorded 531 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 43.6% versus 25.7%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 31.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 35.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.2% | 992 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 909 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.1% | 815 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.7% | 442 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.3% | 423 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 381 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 531 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 466 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 464 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 429 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 418 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 388 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 34.8% | 2,007 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.5% | 1,988 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.7% | 1,597 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 1,085 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.6% | 953 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.1% | 756 |
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 | 573 | 25.7% |
| 30-60k | 2,290 | 31.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,039 | 34.0% |
| 90-120k | 623 | 36.9% |
| 120-150k | 78 | 43.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,713 | 31.8% |
| 2022 | 1,373 | 32.1% |
| 2023 | 1,132 | 33.0% |
| 2024 | 876 | 33.7% |
| 2025 | 666 | 35.7% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Kalos
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 17.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (17.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.1% 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 2008 Chevrolet Kaloss pass their MOT?
67.1% of the 5,760 2008 Chevrolet Kalos MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Chevrolet Kalos?
Suspension, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.8%).
Does the 2008 Kalos get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.7% in the 0-30k band to 43.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,760 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.