2007 Chevrolet Tacuma — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,274 MOT tests, the 2007 Chevrolet Tacuma recorded a 68.3% pass rate. That is 5.1 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.4%) and suspension (13.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, component mounting prescribed areas and prescribed areas — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 144 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 42.5% versus 16.1%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 29.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 209 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.5% | 172 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.7% | 149 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 113 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.7% | 98 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.7% | 98 |
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 | 144 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 125 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 125 |
| 4 | Wipers | 89 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 89 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 85 |
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 | 39.3% | 500 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 38.3% | 488 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.0% | 382 |
| 4 | Suspension | 29.3% | 373 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 22.8% | 290 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.7% | 200 |
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 | 31 | 16.1% |
| 30-60k | 388 | 23.2% |
| 60-90k | 592 | 32.8% |
| 90-120k | 201 | 43.8% |
| 120-150k | 40 | 42.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 471 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 316 | 31.3% |
| 2023 | 232 | 34.5% |
| 2024 | 156 | 34.6% |
| 2025 | 99 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Tacuma
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.5% 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.
- Brakes (11.7% 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.
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 2007 Chevrolet Tacumas pass their MOT?
68.3% of the 1,274 2007 Chevrolet Tacuma MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Chevrolet Tacuma?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by suspension (13.5%).
Does the 2007 Tacuma get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.1% in the 0-30k band to 42.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,274 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.