Chevrolet Volt MOT pass rate & common failures
The Chevrolet Volt appears in 664 MOT tests spanning model years 2012–2019, and 81.5% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (20.5% fail rate), the Volt comes out 2.0pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.3%) and tyres (4.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, side repeaters and malfunction indicator lamp — joints alone was recorded 27 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.7% in the 30-60k band and 24.5% in the 150k+ band, a 9.8-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Volt model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 302 | 81.5% | 18.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 332 | 80.7% | 19.3% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 42 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.8% | 32 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 29 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 26 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.9% | 26 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 24 |
| 7 | Visibility | 1.2% | 8 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.3% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 27 |
| 2 | Side repeaters | 25 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 23 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 17 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 17 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 12 |
| 7 | Brake discs | 8 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 7 |
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 | 31.6% | 210 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.0% | 186 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.1% | 74 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.8% | 72 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.3% | 62 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 32 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 102 | 14.7% |
| 60-90k | 191 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 200 | 18.0% |
| 120-150k | 99 | 18.2% |
| 150k+ | 49 | 24.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | 370 | 19.5% |
| Hybrid | 292 | 17.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 134 | 14.9% |
| 2022 | 144 | 20.1% |
| 2023 | 140 | 22.9% |
| 2024 | 120 | 11.7% |
| 2025 | 126 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a Chevrolet Volt
- Lighting & signalling (6.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (4.4% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Chevrolet Volt?
81.5% of the 664 Chevrolet Volt MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 18.5% fail rate, across model years 2012–2019.
What does the Chevrolet Volt most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.3% of tests, then tyres (4.8%).
How much does mileage affect Volt MOT results?
Fail rates run at 14.7% for cars in the 30-60k band and 24.5% for 150k+, a 9.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 664 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.