Chevrolet Lacetti MOT Failures
An analysis of 89,389 real DVSA MOT tests on the Chevrolet Lacetti — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: J200 (2004–2011).
Where the Chevrolet Lacetti fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Chevrolet Lacetti is suspension pin, bush or joint worn — this model is 28 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 89,389 MOT tests, 6.74% of all Chevrolet Lacetti tests recorded this as a failure.
Suspension failures typically mean worn bushes, drop links, or dampers. These affect handling and tyre wear. Budget £150–£400 per corner at an independent garage for full suspension overhaul.
Other notable weak points include seat mounting fault (28x the fleet average), power steering fault (253x the fleet average), abs fault (201x the fleet average), and headlight fault (20x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Chevrolet Lacetti's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 6 categories: Suspension, Seatbelts & Airbags, Steering, Lights & Electrics, Exhaust & Emissions and others. If you're inspecting a Chevrolet Lacetti before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Chevrolet Lacetti's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Chevrolet Lacetti specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are power steering fault (253x the average) and fluid leak (48x). suspension pin, bush or joint worn (28x) and seat mounting fault (28x) also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Chevrolet Lacetti specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are abs fault (100x the average) and power steering fault (39x). suspension pin, bush or joint worn (17x) and suspension component damaged or corroded (15x) also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
For the Chevrolet Lacetti specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are abs fault (46x the average) and suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing worn (22x). power steering fault (15x) and suspension pin, bush or joint worn (13x) also appear frequently.
The shift from power steering fault at lower mileages to abs fault at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
Known issues beyond the MOT
An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Chevrolet Lacetti specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Subframe mounting point corrosion (J200) Dangerous
The load bearing structure around subframe and suspension mounting points suffers from premature corrosion on the Lacetti. Affects J200; typical independent garage repair cost is £800–£2,000.
Brake line corrosion (J200) Dangerous
The Lacetti suffers from premature brake line corrosion with MOT data showing failures at 14.4x the national fleet average. Affects J200; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£600.
Power steering system failure (J200) Major
The Lacetti has a documented power steering system weakness with MOT data showing failures at 263.5x the national fleet average. Affects J200; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£800.
Brake binding and caliper seizure (J200) Major
The Lacetti suffers from brake caliper binding with MOT data showing failures at 19.9x the national fleet average for brake binding issues. Affects J200; typical independent garage repair cost is £150–£400.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Chevrolet Lacetti common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Chevrolet Lacetti
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Chevrolet Lacetti:
Suspension — check for suspension pin, bush or joint worn, abs fault, suspension component damaged or corroded. Seatbelts & Airbags — check for seat mounting fault. Steering — check for power steering fault.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about subframe mounting point corrosion and brake line corrosion. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £800. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Chevrolet Lacetti?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Chevrolet Lacetti MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Chevrolet Lacetti?
Based on 89,389 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is suspension pin, bush or joint worn — at 28x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include seat mounting fault and power steering fault.
Is the Chevrolet Lacetti reliable based on MOT data?
The Chevrolet Lacetti has 13 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag subframe mounting point corrosion as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Chevrolet Lacetti most commonly fails on abs fault and suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing worn. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are power steering fault and fluid leak.
How do I check a Chevrolet Lacetti's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.