Verdict
The Chevrolet Spark passes its MOT first time on 56.9% of tests, 13.8 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (70.7%). That puts it ahead of 3% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2010 Spark does best (beats 14% of cars) and the 2013 worst (beats 1%).
Of its engines, the 1.2 Petrol does best (beats 4%) and the 1.0 Petrol worst (beats 2%).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 Petrol | 56.0% | Beats 2% | E |
| 1.2 Petrol | 57.5% | Beats 4% | E |
| 0.9 Petrol | 63.5% | Beats 1% | 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
- Brake performance 6.4× typical
On the test drive, brake firmly: the car should stop straight with no pulsing through the pedal. - Sidelights 3.1× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid. - Windscreen wipers 2.2× typical
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail. - Headlight bulbs & units 2.0× typical
Check dipped and main beam on both sides. - Tyre tread depth 1.6× typical
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems. - Exhaust system 2.5× typical
Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look for heavy corrosion underneath.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidelights | 8.0% | 2.6% | 3.1× |
| Brake performance | 7.6% | 1.2% | 6.4× |
| Brake lights | 6.7% | 2.3% | 2.9× |
| Brake pipes | 5.4% | 0.6% | 9.3× |
| Windscreen wipers | 4.8% | 2.2% | 2.2× |
| Coil springs | 4.2% | 3.1% | 1.4× |
| Headlight bulbs & units | 4.1% | 2.0% | 2.0× |
| Tyre tread depth | 3.8% | 2.3% | 1.6× |
| Tyre damage & cracking | 3.2% | 3.5% | 0.9× |
| Number plate lights | 3.0% | 1.2% | 2.4× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 71.2 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 68.7 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 61.5 |
| Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 51.8 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 47.8 |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 42.1 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 39.1 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 38.3 |
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 Spark3 engines65.1% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 Petrol | 65.6% | Beats 1% | E |
| 0.9 Petrol | 65.1% | Beats 1% | E |
| 1.0 Petrol | 64.5% | Beats 1% | E |
2013 Chevrolet Spark3 engines57.4% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 Petrol | 57.8% | Beats 1% | E |
| 1.0 Petrol | 56.1% | Beats 1% | E |
| 0.9 Petrol | 62.1% | Beats 2% | E |
2012 Chevrolet Spark2 engines53.7% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 Petrol | 53.3% | Beats 1% | E |
| 1.2 Petrol | 54.5% | Beats 2% | E |
2011 Chevrolet Spark2 engines56.5% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 Petrol | 57.0% | Beats 6% | E |
| 1.0 Petrol | 56.0% | Beats 4% | E |
2010 Chevrolet Spark2 engines58.6% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 Petrol | 58.7% | Beats 12% | E |
| 1.2 Petrol | 58.5% | Beats 16% | E |
FAQ
What is the Chevrolet Spark MOT pass rate?
56.9% of MOT tests on the Chevrolet Spark were passed first time, based on 139,442 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2010–2014. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 70.7% of the time.
Is the Chevrolet Spark 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 3% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Chevrolet Spark year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2010 Spark does best for its age and mileage: it beats 14% of cars on UK roads. The 2013 does worst: it beats 1%.
Which Chevrolet Spark engine is best?
Across all years, the 1.2 Petrol does best: it beats 4% of cars on UK roads. The 1.0 Petrol does worst: it beats 2%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Chevrolet Spark?
The most common failure items are sidelights, brake performance, brake lights. Compared with similar cars, brake performance comes up 6.4× as often.