2012 Chevrolet Spark — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 24,663 MOT tests, the 2012 Chevrolet Spark recorded a 72.8% pass rate. That is 6.5 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.3% of tests against 13.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, service brake performance and position lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 2,511 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.3% versus 20.4%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.5% 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 | 18.3% | 4,502 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.7% | 3,370 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.5% | 2,603 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.7% | 1,641 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.9% | 1,445 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.0% | 983 |
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 | 2,511 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 2,288 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 2,151 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,877 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 1,195 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,182 |
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 | 40.5% | 9,983 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.6% | 6,804 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.8% | 5,370 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 2,631 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 2,620 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.1% | 1,995 |
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 | 1,896 | 20.4% |
| 30-60k | 8,948 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 9,935 | 29.1% |
| 90-120k | 3,239 | 30.7% |
| 120-150k | 512 | 30.3% |
| 150k+ | 99 | 30.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,502 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 5,258 | 27.0% |
| 2023 | 4,982 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 4,683 | 27.0% |
| 2025 | 4,238 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Spark
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.3% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (13.7% 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 (10.5% 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 2012 Chevrolet Sparks pass their MOT?
72.8% of the 24,663 2012 Chevrolet Spark MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Chevrolet Spark?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.3% of tests, followed by brakes (13.7%).
Does the 2012 Spark get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.4% in the 0-30k band to 30.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,663 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.