2010 Chevrolet Spark — MOT failures & pass rate
21,147 MOT tests on the 2010 Chevrolet Spark are in this dataset, and 74.6% of them passed. Against city cars of a similar age (24.1% fail rate), the 2010 Spark comes out 1.3pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.1% of tests against 12.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, position lamp and service brake performance — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 1,799 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.7% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 3,606 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.0% | 2,542 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.0% | 2,107 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.7% | 1,424 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.4% | 1,135 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.6% | 757 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,799 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,540 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 1,427 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,358 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,042 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 905 |
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 | 39.8% | 8,418 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.9% | 5,896 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.5% | 5,174 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 11.9% | 2,525 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 2,078 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.7% | 2,059 |
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 | 1,407 | 17.8% |
| 30-60k | 7,014 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 8,562 | 26.9% |
| 90-120k | 3,355 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 686 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 110 | 32.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,721 | 23.5% |
| 2022 | 4,599 | 24.9% |
| 2023 | 4,324 | 25.3% |
| 2024 | 3,965 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 3,538 | 27.4% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Spark
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.0% 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 (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
How many 2010 Chevrolet Sparks pass their MOT?
74.6% of the 21,147 2010 Chevrolet Spark MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Chevrolet Spark?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.1% of tests, followed by brakes (12.0%).
Does the 2010 Spark get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.8% in the 0-30k band to 32.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,147 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.