2010 Chevrolet Matiz — MOT failures & pass rate
6,298 MOT tests on the 2010 Chevrolet Matiz are in this dataset, and 71.6% of them passed. Against city cars of a similar age (23.9% fail rate), the 2010 Matiz comes out 4.5pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.1%) and suspension (13.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, service brake performance and wipers — ball joint alone was recorded 454 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 35.2% versus 20.5%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 950 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.7% | 860 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.4% | 784 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.3% | 461 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.4% | 404 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 333 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 454 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 396 |
| 3 | Wipers | 385 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 353 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 346 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 297 |
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 | 33.7% | 2,120 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.8% | 1,942 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.8% | 1,750 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.7% | 739 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.3% | 649 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 554 |
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 | 1,046 | 20.5% |
| 30-60k | 3,128 | 28.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,755 | 31.9% |
| 90-120k | 338 | 35.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,530 | 26.6% |
| 2022 | 1,429 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 1,319 | 29.1% |
| 2024 | 1,103 | 28.6% |
| 2025 | 917 | 30.3% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Matiz
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.7% 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 (12.4% 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 2010 Chevrolet Matizs pass their MOT?
71.6% of the 6,298 2010 Chevrolet Matiz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Chevrolet Matiz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, followed by suspension (13.7%).
Does the 2010 Matiz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.5% in the 0-30k band to 35.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,298 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.