Chevrolet Spark MOT pass rate & common failures
The Chevrolet Spark appears in 101,710 MOT tests spanning model years 1995–2022, and 73.5% of them passed. Against city cars of a similar age (21.2% fail rate), the Spark comes out 5.3pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.7% of all tests — 3.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, rigid brake pipes and position lamp — service brake performance alone was recorded 9,964 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.8% in the 0-30k band and 28.5% in the 150k+ band, a 7.7-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Spark model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 21,147 | 74.6% | 25.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 24,766 | 73.7% | 26.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 24,663 | 72.8% | 27.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 26,076 | 72.8% | 27.2% | Brakes |
| 2014 | 4,967 | 74.8% | 25.2% | Brakes |
| 2015 | 62 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 16,991 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.7% | 13,913 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.0% | 10,158 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.5% | 6,639 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.5% | 5,563 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 3,500 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 2,014 |
| 8 | Steering | 1.2% | 1,237 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 9,964 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 9,712 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 7,921 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 5,974 |
| 5 | Wipers | 4,908 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 4,373 |
| 7 | Tread depth | 3,962 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 3,761 |
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 | 40.0% | 40,723 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.8% | 28,278 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.8% | 22,144 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 9,838 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.7% | 9,824 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 8,944 |
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 | 8,630 | 20.8% |
| 30-60k | 37,559 | 24.6% |
| 60-90k | 39,327 | 28.0% |
| 90-120k | 13,440 | 30.1% |
| 120-150k | 2,274 | 31.1% |
| 150k+ | 358 | 28.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,407 | 26.3% |
| 2022 | 21,665 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 20,774 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 19,317 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 17,547 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a Chevrolet Spark
- Lighting & signalling (16.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.7% 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 (10.0% 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 Spark?
73.5% of the 101,710 Chevrolet Spark MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 26.5% fail rate, across model years 1995–2022.
What does the Chevrolet Spark most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests, then brakes (13.7%).
How much does mileage affect Spark MOT results?
Fail rates run at 20.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 28.5% for 150k+, a 7.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 101,710 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.