Chevrolet Kalos
From 4,275 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 568 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 568 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 393 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 253 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 204 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 197 |
| headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 196 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 167 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 133 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 132 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 125 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 21.9% of Kalos failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 46.5% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £141.
Chevrolet Kalos on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 591 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 591. At this rate, roughly 4.1 years until none remain. Now at 16.3% of its peak (14,999 in 2009 Q3).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,619 | 832 | +0 | -101 | -101 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,721 | 831 | +0 | -140 | -140 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,859 | 833 | +0 | -155 | -155 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,985 | 862 | +0 | -195 | -195 |
| 2024 Q3 | 2,164 | 878 | +0 | -174 | -174 |
| 2024 Q2 | 2,316 | 900 | +0 | -149 | -149 |
| 2024 Q1 | 2,473 | 892 | +1 | -172 | -171 |
| 2023 Q4 | 2,674 | 862 | +0 | -170 | -170 |
4 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalos Sx | Petrol | 494 | 31% |
| Kalos Sx Auto | Petrol | 402 | 25% |
| Kalos Se | Petrol | 363 | 23% |
| Kalos S | Petrol | 332 | 21% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 59.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 2007 | 61.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 2006 | 58.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 2005 | 60% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all Kaloss tested had between 51,870 and 80,013 miles on the clock.
At 64,411 median miles, the Kalos has 0.062 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 Cruze | 69% |
Common questions
What is the Chevrolet Kalos MOT pass rate?
The Chevrolet Kalos has a 60.2% MOT pass rate based on 4,275 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Chevrolet Kalos?
The most common MOT failure on the Chevrolet Kalos is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 568 failures. Other common issues include the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired.
How many Chevrolet Kaloss are on UK roads?
There are 1,619 Chevrolet Kaloss currently licensed on UK roads, with 832 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Chevrolet Kalos at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Chevrolet Kalos is 64,411 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 51,870 and 80,013 miles.
Buying a used Kalos?
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 60.2% pass rate and an average repair bill of £141 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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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.