2011 Chevrolet Spark — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Chevrolet Spark passed 73.7% of its 24,766 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail 22.4% of the time, so this is 3.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.3% of all tests — 4.7 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 2,444 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.2% in the 0-30k band and 28.4% in the 150k+ band, a 9.2-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.3% | 4,538 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.6% | 3,362 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.7% | 2,405 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.7% | 1,660 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.5% | 1,370 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 830 |
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 | 2,444 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,130 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,894 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,798 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,153 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,133 |
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 | 40.6% | 10,044 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.4% | 7,024 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.6% | 5,586 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.8% | 2,674 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 2,583 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 2,351 |
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 | 1,703 | 19.2% |
| 30-60k | 8,685 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 9,849 | 27.7% |
| 90-120k | 3,797 | 30.7% |
| 120-150k | 609 | 33.3% |
| 150k+ | 81 | 28.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,569 | 25.8% |
| 2022 | 5,233 | 25.5% |
| 2023 | 5,131 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 4,641 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 4,192 | 27.2% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Spark
On a 2011 Spark, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.6% 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 (9.7% 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.
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 Sparks pass their MOT?
73.7% of the 24,766 2011 Chevrolet Spark MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Chevrolet Spark?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.3% of tests, followed by brakes (13.6%).
Does the 2011 Spark get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.2% in the 0-30k band to 28.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,766 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.