Verdict
The Chevrolet Cruze passes its MOT first time on 62.0% of tests, 6.8 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (68.7%). That puts it ahead of 17% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2009 Cruze does best (beats 28% of cars) and the 2013 worst (beats 13%).
Better than average on steering.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
Best and worst years
By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Engines
All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 61.4% | Beats 15% | E |
| 1.8 Petrol | 64.1% | Beats 20% | D |
| 1.7 Diesel | 64.4% | Beats 21% | D |
| 2.0 Diesel | 57.4% | Beats 18% | E |
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Coil springs 2.6× typical
Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps. - Sidelights 2.1× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid. - Engine warning light 3.4× typical
The engine warning light should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts. If it stays on, get the fault codes read before you buy. - Brake pads 1.9× typical
Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash. - Windscreen wipers 1.9× typical
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail. - Headlight bulbs & units 1.5× typical
Check dipped and main beam on both sides.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coil springs | 8.5% | 3.3% | 2.6× |
| Sidelights | 6.4% | 3.0% | 2.1× |
| Brake pads | 4.1% | 2.1% | 1.9× |
| Windscreen wipers | 4.0% | 2.2% | 1.9× |
| Tyre damage & cracking | 3.7% | 3.7% | 1.0× |
| Headlight bulbs & units | 3.4% | 2.2% | 1.5× |
| Headlight aim | 3.3% | 3.2% | 1.0× |
| Engine warning light | 2.9% | 0.9% | 3.4× |
| Tyre tread depth | 2.8% | 2.8% | 1.0× |
| Windscreen washers | 2.5% | 2.2% | 1.1× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 84.6 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 53.7 |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 38.6 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 38.4 |
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 33.0 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 32.7 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 31.8 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 28.1 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Every year and engine
Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
2014 Chevrolet Cruze2 engines67.1% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.7 Diesel | 67.8% | Beats 20% | D |
| 1.6 Petrol | 65.9% | Beats 6% | E |
2013 Chevrolet Cruze3 engines63.9% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 62.5% | Beats 7% | E |
| 1.8 Petrol | 66.5% | Beats 18% | E |
| 1.7 Diesel | 62.9% | Beats 21% | D |
2012 Chevrolet Cruze4 engines62.2% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 62.7% | Beats 15% | E |
| 1.8 Petrol | 64.6% | Beats 19% | E |
| 2.0 Diesel | 59.1% | Beats 15% | E |
| 1.7 Diesel | 60.8% | Beats 24% | D |
2011 Chevrolet Cruze2 engines61.2% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 61.0% | Beats 17% | E |
| 1.8 Petrol | 61.9% | Beats 21% | D |
2010 Chevrolet Cruze3 engines57.5% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 58.1% | Beats 22% | D |
| 2.0 Diesel | 54.8% | Beats 24% | D |
| 1.8 Petrol | 60.0% | Beats 28% | D |
2009 Chevrolet Cruze1 engine57.6% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 57.6% | Beats 28% | D |
FAQ
What is the Chevrolet Cruze MOT pass rate?
62.0% of MOT tests on the Chevrolet Cruze were passed first time, based on 48,039 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2009–2014. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 68.7% of the time.
Is the Chevrolet Cruze reliable?
On MOT results it rates E (poor): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 17% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Chevrolet Cruze year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2009 Cruze does best for its age and mileage: it beats 28% of cars on UK roads. The 2013 does worst: it beats 13%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Chevrolet Cruze?
The most common failure items are coil springs, sidelights, brake pads. Compared with similar cars, coil springs comes up 2.6× as often.