2008 Chevrolet Lacetti — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Chevrolet Lacetti passed 68.4% of its 4,431 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (26.0% fail rate), the 2008 Lacetti comes out 5.6pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (19.7%) and brakes (17.2%) 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, position lamp and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 395 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.8% in the 0-30k band and 35.9% in the 150k+ band, a 18.1-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 41.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.4% in 2021 to 28.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.7% | 872 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.2% | 764 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.6% | 604 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 334 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 274 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.1% | 270 |
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 | 395 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 394 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 319 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 312 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 304 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 279 |
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 | 41.8% | 1,852 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 31.8% | 1,409 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.2% | 1,249 |
| 4 | Suspension | 26.3% | 1,166 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 747 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.3% | 678 |
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 | 208 | 17.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,239 | 27.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,804 | 33.1% |
| 90-120k | 949 | 36.5% |
| 120-150k | 178 | 34.8% |
| 150k+ | 53 | 35.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,370 | 31.4% |
| 2022 | 1,126 | 32.2% |
| 2023 | 880 | 32.3% |
| 2024 | 618 | 32.0% |
| 2025 | 437 | 28.8% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Lacetti
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.2% 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 (13.6% 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
How many 2008 Chevrolet Lacettis pass their MOT?
68.4% of the 4,431 2008 Chevrolet Lacetti MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Chevrolet Lacetti?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests, followed by brakes (17.2%).
Does the 2008 Lacetti get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.8% in the 0-30k band to 35.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,431 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.