Daewoo Kalos MOT pass rate & common failures
The Daewoo Kalos appears in 4,808 MOT tests spanning model years 2001–2005, and 66.9% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the Kalos comes out 5.4pp worse. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (19.2%) and lighting & signalling (16.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, pins and bushes and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 664 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 41.0% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Kalos model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 1,657 | 66.5% | 33.6% | Suspension |
| 2004 | 2,742 | 67.3% | 32.7% | Suspension |
| 2005 | 406 | 66.5% | 33.5% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.2% | 922 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 801 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.5% | 603 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.0% | 434 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.5% | 407 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 397 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.3% | 301 |
| 8 | Tyres | 4.9% | 234 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 664 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 392 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 388 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 360 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 330 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 294 |
| 7 | Washers | 257 |
| 8 | Wipers | 243 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 39.2% | 1,883 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.2% | 1,501 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.0% | 1,348 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 24.1% | 1,157 |
| 5 | Other defects | 18.1% | 869 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 17.4% | 837 |
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 | 248 | 23.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,652 | 28.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,897 | 35.2% |
| 90-120k | 762 | 38.3% |
| 120-150k | 175 | 40.0% |
| 150k+ | 39 | 41.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,627 | 34.7% |
| 2022 | 1,158 | 32.6% |
| 2023 | 886 | 31.3% |
| 2024 | 648 | 31.8% |
| 2025 | 489 | 33.7% |
What to check before buying a Daewoo Kalos
- Suspension (19.2% 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 (16.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.5% 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 Daewoo Kalos?
66.9% of the 4,808 Daewoo Kalos MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 33.1% fail rate, across model years 2001–2005.
What does the Daewoo Kalos most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 19.2% of tests, then lighting & signalling (16.7%).
How much does mileage affect Kalos MOT results?
Fail rates run at 23.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 41.0% for 150k+, a 17.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,808 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.