2012 Chrysler Delta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,119 MOT tests, the 2012 Chrysler Delta recorded a 72.1% pass rate. That is 6.4 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.5%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 15.7% of all tests — 4.9 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — coil spring alone was recorded 337 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.4% versus 17.9%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 27.7% of the time against 28.1% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.7% | 488 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 334 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.4% | 232 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.1% | 190 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 126 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 122 |
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 | 337 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 157 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 132 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 126 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 126 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 124 |
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 | 29.7% | 927 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.9% | 871 |
| 3 | Suspension | 27.9% | 870 |
| 4 | Other defects | 16.3% | 507 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.5% | 390 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.4% | 326 |
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 | 39 | 17.9% |
| 30-60k | 433 | 24.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,352 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 903 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 285 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 102 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,676 | 27.7% |
| Petrol | 1,443 | 28.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 702 | 26.5% |
| 2022 | 679 | 25.6% |
| 2023 | 655 | 30.2% |
| 2024 | 594 | 29.1% |
| 2025 | 489 | 28.2% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Delta
On a 2012 Delta, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.7% 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
How many 2012 Chrysler Deltas pass their MOT?
72.1% of the 3,119 2012 Chrysler Delta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Chrysler Delta?
Suspension, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.7%).
Does the 2012 Delta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.9% in the 0-30k band to 32.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,119 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.