Daewoo Matiz MOT pass rate & common failures
The Daewoo Matiz appears in 9,300 MOT tests spanning model years 1998–2015, and 65.3% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), the Matiz comes out 7.2pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.4%) and suspension (16.5%) 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, headlamp aim and headlamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,361 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 26.7% in the 0-30k band and 39.6% in the 120-150k band, a 12.9-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 36.1% in 2021 to 32.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Matiz model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 60 | 61.7% | 38.3% | Brakes |
| 1999 | 353 | 67.1% | 32.9% | Brakes |
| 2000 | 653 | 66.5% | 33.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 1,048 | 66.1% | 33.9% | Suspension |
| 2002 | 1,241 | 65.8% | 34.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 1,739 | 66.4% | 33.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 3,670 | 64.1% | 35.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 530 | 64.0% | 36.0% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 1,621 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.5% | 1,536 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.1% | 1,308 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 11.6% | 1,082 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 966 |
| 6 | Visibility | 8.4% | 780 |
| 7 | Tyres | 5.9% | 548 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.1% | 471 |
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 | 1,361 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 982 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 893 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 753 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 656 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 605 |
| 7 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 565 |
| 8 | Wipers | 554 |
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 | 35.6% | 3,310 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.1% | 2,896 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.5% | 2,467 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.9% | 1,756 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.9% | 1,573 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.2% | 1,317 |
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 | 1,225 | 26.7% |
| 30-60k | 4,707 | 33.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,637 | 38.8% |
| 90-120k | 623 | 42.5% |
| 120-150k | 91 | 39.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,258 | 36.1% |
| 2022 | 2,319 | 34.7% |
| 2023 | 1,676 | 33.7% |
| 2024 | 1,216 | 34.2% |
| 2025 | 831 | 32.9% |
What to check before buying a Daewoo Matiz
- Lighting & signalling (17.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.5% 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.
- Brakes (14.1% 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 Matiz?
65.3% of the 9,300 Daewoo Matiz MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 34.8% fail rate, across model years 1998–2015.
What does the Daewoo Matiz most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.4% of tests, then suspension (16.5%).
How much does mileage affect Matiz MOT results?
Fail rates run at 26.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 39.6% for 120-150k, a 12.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,300 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.