2011 Chrysler Ypsilon — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Chrysler Ypsilon passed 75.1% of its 1,608 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (23.8% fail rate), the 2011 Ypsilon comes out 1.1pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 15.0% of tests against 9.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, coil spring and tread depth — shock absorbers alone was recorded 129 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.0% versus 14.5%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 24.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.0% | 242 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 152 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.4% | 103 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.0% | 96 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 68 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 57 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 129 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 102 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 67 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 55 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 47 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 44 |
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 | 26.2% | 421 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.6% | 363 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.4% | 361 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.2% | 164 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.1% | 162 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 158 |
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 | 62 | 14.5% |
| 30-60k | 506 | 22.3% |
| 60-90k | 762 | 25.3% |
| 90-120k | 232 | 30.6% |
| 120-150k | 31 | 29.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,333 | 25.2% |
| Diesel | 275 | 23.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 347 | 24.5% |
| 2022 | 353 | 24.9% |
| 2023 | 330 | 25.1% |
| 2024 | 302 | 24.2% |
| 2025 | 276 | 26.1% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Ypsilon
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.0% 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 (9.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.4% 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 2011 Chrysler Ypsilons pass their MOT?
75.1% of the 1,608 2011 Chrysler Ypsilon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Chrysler Ypsilon?
Suspension, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.4%).
Does the 2011 Ypsilon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.5% in the 0-30k band to 29.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,608 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.