City car · 2005–2019 cars
Chevrolet Spark reliability
The Chevrolet Spark fails 44.8% of first MOT tests, 46% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 51,224 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Chevrolet Spark before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 44.8%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 46% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 51,224
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 6,000
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Chevrolet Spark ages
Each point is the share of Chevrolet Sparks of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Chevrolet Spark | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 40.1% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 44.2% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 44.4% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 44.9% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 44.7% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 45.3% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 44.9% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 44.2% | 41.1% |
By year
The best and worst Chevrolet Spark years
2010 cars come out best and 2014 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Spark | 2,531 | 41.9% | 81% more fails | 46,537 |
| 2013 Spark | 12,834 | 44.6% | 61% more fails | 60,933 |
| 2012 Spark | 12,358 | 46.4% | 52% more fails | 64,740 |
| 2011 Spark | 12,650 | 45.2% | 40% more fails | 65,944 |
| 2010 Spark | 10,813 | 43.4% | 27% more fails | 67,076 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Chevrolet Spark
Its weak spot is brakes: 168% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics22.6%87% above avg
- Brakes17.8%168% above avg
- Suspension13.1%27% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors8.6%83% above avg
- Tyres7.2%18% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure4.8%46% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.8%0% below avg
- Steering1.8%9% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags1.4%96% above avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Position lamp not working 7.74% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 6% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
- 3
Stop lamp not working 5.94% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 4
Service brake excessively binding 5% of tests
A brake that drags when released can overheat, wear quickly and waste fuel, so it needs prompt inspection.
- 5
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 4.39% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 6
Coil spring fractured or broken 4.24% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 7
Dipped beam headlamp not working 3.73% of tests
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
- 8
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 3.32% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Chevrolet Spark's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy24.58%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit15.57%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking10.34%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive6.94%
- Service brake slightly binding5.99%
- Strut pin or bush showing wear5.17%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Chevrolet Spark
- 1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
- 3
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 4
Service brake excessively binding
A brake that drags when released can overheat, wear quickly and waste fuel, so it needs prompt inspection.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Chevrolet Spark covers about 6,000 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol100%
- Diesel0%
- LPG0%
- Electric0%
Most common colours
Blue, Silver, Black, Green, Red
Average engine size: 1.1 litres.
Compare
How the Chevrolet Spark compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota iQ | 23% | 29% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SEAT Mii | 21.4% | about average for its age |
| Smart Fortwo Coupe | 34.8% | about average for its age |
| Abarth 595 | 18.6% | 16% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën C2 | 47.7% | 19% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chevrolet Spark | 44.8% | 46% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chevrolet Matiz | 49.4% | 50% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every city car ranked in the city car reliability index, or all Chevrolet models.
Questions
Chevrolet Spark questions, answered
Is the Chevrolet Spark reliable?
On MOT results, the Chevrolet Spark is well below average: it fails 44.8% of first MOT tests, 46% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 42 of 43 city car models in our index.
What fails most on a Chevrolet Spark MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Chevrolet Spark are position lamp not working (7.74% of tests), rigid brake pipe excessively corroded (6% of tests), stop lamp not working (5.94% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 22.6% of its tests.
Which Chevrolet Spark year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2010 cars do best (27% more MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2014 cars do worst (81% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Chevrolet Spark do a year?
A typical Chevrolet Spark covers about 6,000 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Chevrolet Spark before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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