2005 Chevrolet Matiz — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,246 MOT tests, the 2005 Chevrolet Matiz recorded a 66.0% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 29.3% of the time, so this is 4.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.9%) and suspension (17.3%) 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, headlamp and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 720 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 22.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 43.2% once past 120-150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.9% | 937 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.3% | 906 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.0% | 680 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 554 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.0% | 473 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.8% | 409 |
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 | 720 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 441 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 386 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 345 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 324 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 317 |
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 | 39.5% | 2,070 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.7% | 1,664 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.3% | 1,539 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.8% | 985 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 965 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.8% | 568 |
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 | 476 | 22.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,464 | 31.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,793 | 37.6% |
| 90-120k | 419 | 41.3% |
| 120-150k | 81 | 43.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,688 | 34.2% |
| 2022 | 1,281 | 33.6% |
| 2023 | 999 | 34.5% |
| 2024 | 746 | 33.2% |
| 2025 | 532 | 34.0% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Matiz
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Brakes (13.0% 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.
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 2005 Chevrolet Matizs pass their MOT?
66.0% of the 5,246 2005 Chevrolet Matiz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Chevrolet Matiz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.9% of tests, followed by suspension (17.3%).
Does the 2005 Matiz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.5% in the 0-30k band to 43.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,246 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.