Chevrolet Lacetti MOT pass rate & common failures
The Chevrolet Lacetti appears in 18,971 MOT tests spanning model years 1994–2021, and 68.1% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 25.9% of the time, so this is 6.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
Best and worst Lacetti years
Ranked across Lacetti years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
The strongest year on this record is 2010 (71.8% pass rate); the weakest is 2005 (65.4%). Older cars carry more of the difference than the average implies.
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.0% of tests against 16.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, position lamp and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,748 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.3% in the 0-30k band and 35.9% in the 150k+ band, a 16.6-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Lacetti model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1,524 | 65.4% | 34.6% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 2,770 | 65.5% | 34.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 3,417 | 67.5% | 32.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 4,431 | 68.4% | 31.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 4,447 | 68.9% | 31.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 1,597 | 71.8% | 28.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 771 | 70.4% | 29.6% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.0% | 3,787 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.6% | 3,148 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.2% | 2,702 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 1,451 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.7% | 1,271 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.0% | 1,143 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 1,054 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.9% | 936 |
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 | 1,748 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,647 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,520 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 1,402 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 1,250 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,090 |
| 7 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,085 |
| 8 | Wipers | 978 |
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 | 40.1% | 7,610 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 30.9% | 5,865 |
| 3 | Suspension | 29.4% | 5,572 |
| 4 | Tyres | 28.1% | 5,335 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 3,175 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.2% | 2,688 |
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 | 800 | 19.3% |
| 30-60k | 5,364 | 27.4% |
| 60-90k | 7,612 | 32.9% |
| 90-120k | 3,977 | 37.0% |
| 120-150k | 902 | 37.9% |
| 150k+ | 312 | 35.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 18,936 | 31.9% |
| Diesel | 32 | 31.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,843 | 31.5% |
| 2022 | 4,628 | 31.8% |
| 2023 | 3,692 | 32.5% |
| 2024 | 2,755 | 32.4% |
| 2025 | 2,053 | 31.7% |
What to check before buying a Chevrolet Lacetti
- Lighting & signalling (20.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.6% 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.
- Suspension (14.2% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Chevrolet Lacetti?
68.1% of the 18,971 Chevrolet Lacetti MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 31.9% fail rate, across model years 1994–2021.
What does the Chevrolet Lacetti most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.0% of tests, then brakes (16.6%).
Which Lacetti years are best and worst for MOT results?
2010 has the best pass rate at 71.8% and 2005 the weakest at 65.4%, from 1,597 and 1,524 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Lacetti MOT results?
Fail rates run at 19.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 35.9% for 150k+, a 16.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,971 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.