Chrysler Delta MOT pass rate & common failures
The Chrysler Delta appears in 4,351 MOT tests spanning model years 2011–2019, and 72.5% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (21.7% fail rate), the Delta comes out 5.9pp worse. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 15.6% of tests against 10.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — coil spring alone was recorded 484 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.5% versus 19.6%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 27.4% of the time against 27.7% for petrol.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Delta model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 960 | 73.0% | 27.0% | Suspension |
| 2012 | 3,119 | 72.1% | 27.9% | Suspension |
| 2013 | 218 | 76.1% | 23.8% | Suspension |
| 2014 | 52 | 67.3% | 32.7% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.6% | 678 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 466 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.4% | 323 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.1% | 265 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 171 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 163 |
| 7 | Steering | 3.4% | 146 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 145 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 484 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 211 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 190 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 182 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 171 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 154 |
| 7 | Tread depth | 135 |
| 8 | Brake pads | 114 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 29.6% | 1,289 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.2% | 1,226 |
| 3 | Brakes | 27.8% | 1,208 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.3% | 668 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 477 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.2% | 442 |
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 | 46 | 19.6% |
| 30-60k | 599 | 22.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,761 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,336 | 29.0% |
| 120-150k | 461 | 29.3% |
| 150k+ | 143 | 31.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,548 | 27.4% |
| Petrol | 1,803 | 27.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 986 | 25.5% |
| 2022 | 956 | 25.9% |
| 2023 | 919 | 29.2% |
| 2024 | 817 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 673 | 28.4% |
What to check before buying a Chrysler Delta
- Suspension (15.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.4% 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 Chrysler Delta?
72.5% of the 4,351 Chrysler Delta MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.5% fail rate, across model years 2011–2019.
What does the Chrysler Delta most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 15.6% of tests, then lighting & signalling (10.7%).
How much does mileage affect Delta MOT results?
Fail rates run at 19.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 31.5% for 150k+, a 11.9-point difference.
Is the diesel or petrol Delta more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the diesel fails 27.4% of the time against 27.7% for the petrol. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,351 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.