Chevrolet Kalos MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

Chevrolet Kalos MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The Chevrolet Kalos passed on its first attempt in 55.2%, and its overall record sits −14.0 percentage points below the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Chevrolet Kalos in the 2023–2025 data: 9,989 tests across 4 model years (2005–2008). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.

Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.

Most Common Chevrolet Kalos MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Chevrolet Kalos, the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.

Shares are over the Chevrolet Kalos's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Top Recorded Chevrolet Kalos DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Chevrolet Kalos, each with how many of the model's 9,989 tests it was noted on.

• "Headlamp lens slightly defective" (Minor) — noted on about 810 Chevrolet Kalos tests, 8.1% of the model's MOT record.
• "Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn" (Major) — noted on about 632 Chevrolet Kalos tests, 6.3% of the model's MOT record.
• "Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength" (Major) — noted on about 544 Chevrolet Kalos tests, 5.4% of the model's MOT record.
• "Track rod end ball joint has excessive play" (Major) — noted on about 509 Chevrolet Kalos tests, 5.1% of the model's MOT record.
• "Service brake performance excessively binding" (Major) — noted on about 450 Chevrolet Kalos tests, 4.5% of the model's MOT record.
• "Position lamp not working" (Major) — noted on about 419 Chevrolet Kalos tests, 4.2% of the model's MOT record.

Best and Worst Chevrolet Kalos Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest Chevrolet Kalos model year on record is 2007 (68.0% across 3,459 tests), and the weakest is 2005 (65.7%). The gap between them is 2.3 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.

Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.

Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Chevrolet Kalos Owners

These checks follow this Chevrolet Kalos's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Chevrolet Kalos.

• the lights — “headlamp lens slightly defective”

  Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.

• the suspension joints — “pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn”

  With the car parked on level ground, rock the top of each front wheel in and out while someone watches the suspension arm. Clunks, or rubber boots split and greasy, are what testers record here.

• corrosion — “component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength”

  Look under the sills, around the jacking points and where the suspension mounts meet the body. Flaking, holed or crumbly metal fails; a brown stain on sound metal does not.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Chevrolet Kalos. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: Chevrolet Kalos MOT & Reliability