Chevrolet Cruze
From 7,198 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Cruzes fare better: 2014 models pass at 71.8% vs 66.6% for 2010.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning and a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm. The top issue, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, caused 439 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 439 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 240 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 190 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 182 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 180 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 167 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 161 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 141 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 129 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 114 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 31.2% of Cruze failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 31.7% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £128.
Chevrolet Cruze on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 631 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 630. At this rate, roughly 7.3 years until none remain. Now at 56.7% of its peak (8,092 in 2014 Q2).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 4,008 | 583 | +0 | -148 | -148 |
| 2025 Q2 | 4,170 | 569 | +1 | -179 | -178 |
| 2025 Q1 | 4,366 | 551 | +0 | -159 | -159 |
| 2024 Q4 | 4,537 | 539 | +0 | -145 | -145 |
| 2024 Q3 | 4,701 | 520 | +0 | -122 | -122 |
| 2024 Q2 | 4,842 | 501 | +0 | -128 | -128 |
| 2024 Q1 | 4,969 | 502 | +0 | -132 | -132 |
| 2023 Q4 | 5,104 | 499 | +0 | -111 | -111 |
11 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cruze Lt Auto | Gas | 815 | 21% |
| Cruze Lt | Petrol | 666 | 17% |
| Cruze Ls | Petrol | 643 | 16% |
| Cruze Lt Vcdi | Diesel | 517 | 13% |
| Cruze Ltz Auto | Gas | 319 | 8% |
| Cruze Ltz Vcdi | Diesel | 318 | 8% |
| Cruze Ltz | Petrol | 235 | 6% |
| Cruze Ls Auto | Petrol | 214 | 5% |
| Cruze Ls Vcdi | Diesel | 96 | 2% |
| Cruze Ltz Vcdi Auto | Diesel | 62 | 2% |
| Cruze S | Petrol | 60 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 71.8% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2013 | 69.9% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2012 | 69.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2011 | 68.3% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
2 earlier years
| 2010 | 66.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2009 | 67.1% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources |
Typical mileage
Half of all Cruzes tested had between 56,331 and 97,772 miles on the clock.
At 79,281 median miles, the Cruze has 0.039 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Chevrolet models
| Chevrolet Spark | 66.1% |
| Chevrolet Matiz | 61.7% |
| Chevrolet Aveo | 62.6% |
| Chevrolet Captiva | 65.1% |
| Chevrolet Orlando | 67.7% |
Common questions
What is the Chevrolet Cruze MOT pass rate?
The Chevrolet Cruze has a 69% MOT pass rate based on 7,198 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Chevrolet Cruze?
The most common MOT failure on the Chevrolet Cruze is a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, which caused 439 failures. Other common issues include a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning.
How many Chevrolet Cruzes are on UK roads?
There are 4,008 Chevrolet Cruzes currently licensed on UK roads, with 583 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Chevrolet Cruze at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Chevrolet Cruze is 79,281 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 56,331 and 97,772 miles.
Buying a used Cruze?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 69% pass rate and an average repair bill of £128 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 31.2% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.