2013 Chevrolet Spark — MOT failures & pass rate
26,076 MOT tests on the 2013 Chevrolet Spark are in this dataset, and 72.8% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail 19.0% of the time, so this is 8.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (14.7%) and lighting & signalling (14.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, rigid brake pipes and position lamp — service brake performance alone was recorded 3,059 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 Spark fails 23.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 21.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.2% in 2021 to 26.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.7% | 3,838 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 3,773 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.4% | 2,724 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.3% | 1,633 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.2% | 1,352 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 816 |
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 | 3,059 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,867 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,945 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 1,370 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,289 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 947 |
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 | 40.2% | 10,493 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.5% | 7,160 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.2% | 5,266 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 2,656 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 2,437 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.6% | 1,977 |
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 | 2,457 | 23.5% |
| 30-60k | 10,612 | 26.5% |
| 60-90k | 9,791 | 28.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,731 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 404 | 28.0% |
| 150k+ | 51 | 21.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,587 | 28.2% |
| 2022 | 5,513 | 27.4% |
| 2023 | 5,297 | 27.2% |
| 2024 | 5,047 | 26.7% |
| 2025 | 4,632 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Spark
On a 2013 Spark, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (14.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.4% 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 2013 Chevrolet Sparks pass their MOT?
72.8% of the 26,076 2013 Chevrolet Spark MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Chevrolet Spark?
Brakes, recorded in 14.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.5%).
Does the 2013 Spark get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.5% in the 0-30k band to 21.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 26,076 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.