Chevrolet Tacuma MOT pass rate & common failures
The Chevrolet Tacuma appears in 3,327 MOT tests spanning model years 1989–2011, and 68.6% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 26.6% of the time, so this is 4.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.6%) and suspension (12.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, prescribed areas and component mounting prescribed areas — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 380 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 38.2% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.8% in 2021 to 29.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Tacuma model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 588 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 670 | 70.2% | 29.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 1,274 | 68.3% | 31.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 749 | 68.9% | 31.1% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 519 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.6% | 420 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.8% | 392 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 283 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.1% | 269 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 259 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 7.0% | 232 |
| 8 | Tyres | 6.7% | 222 |
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 | 380 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 316 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 259 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 224 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 221 |
| 6 | Wipers | 214 |
| 7 | Position lamp | 199 |
| 8 | Service brake performance | 155 |
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 | 37.8% | 1,258 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 36.1% | 1,201 |
| 3 | Tyres | 31.9% | 1,060 |
| 4 | Suspension | 30.1% | 1,002 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 21.5% | 714 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.8% | 560 |
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 | 123 | 18.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,050 | 25.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,515 | 33.0% |
| 90-120k | 519 | 39.5% |
| 120-150k | 84 | 41.7% |
| 150k+ | 34 | 38.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,278 | 30.8% |
| 2022 | 833 | 31.4% |
| 2023 | 580 | 32.8% |
| 2024 | 398 | 32.7% |
| 2025 | 238 | 29.0% |
What to check before buying a Chevrolet Tacuma
- Lighting & signalling (15.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.6% 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.
- Brakes (11.8% 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.
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 Tacuma?
68.6% of the 3,327 Chevrolet Tacuma MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 31.4% fail rate, across model years 1989–2011.
What does the Chevrolet Tacuma most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.6% of tests, then suspension (12.6%).
How much does mileage affect Tacuma MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 38.2% for 150k+, a 19.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,327 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.