2011 Chevrolet Lacetti — MOT failures & pass rate
771 MOT tests on the 2011 Chevrolet Lacetti are in this dataset, and 70.4% of them passed. That is 7.0 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.6% of tests against 15.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and service brake performance — position lamp alone was recorded 78 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 37.0% versus 17.1%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.6% | 159 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.0% | 116 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.4% | 88 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.9% | 61 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.2% | 48 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.7% | 36 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 78 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 64 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 60 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 51 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 42 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 38 |
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% | 309 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.8% | 222 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.9% | 207 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 23.1% | 178 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.5% | 89 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 81 |
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 | 41 | 17.1% |
| 30-60k | 214 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 325 | 30.8% |
| 90-120k | 146 | 37.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 179 | 27.4% |
| 2022 | 172 | 29.6% |
| 2023 | 163 | 30.1% |
| 2024 | 142 | 30.3% |
| 2025 | 115 | 31.3% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Lacetti
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (15.0% 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 (11.4% 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 2011 Chevrolet Lacettis pass their MOT?
70.4% of the 771 2011 Chevrolet Lacetti MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Chevrolet Lacetti?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.6% of tests, followed by brakes (15.0%).
Does the 2011 Lacetti get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.1% in the 0-30k band to 37.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 771 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.