Chevrolet Trax MOT Failures
An analysis of 14,336 real DVSA MOT tests on the Chevrolet Trax — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: T300 (2013–2021).
Where the Chevrolet Trax fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Chevrolet Trax is suspension joint dust cover missing or no longe... — this model is 23 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 14,336 MOT tests, 7.04% of all Chevrolet Trax 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 suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated (15x the fleet average), track rod ends worn (13x the fleet average), tyre wear or damage (11x the fleet average), and axle or kingpin wear (9.5x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Chevrolet Trax'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 4 categories: Suspension, Steering, Tyres, Exhaust & Emissions. If you're inspecting a Chevrolet Trax 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 Trax'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 Trax specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are suspension joint dust cover missing or no longe... (23x the average) and suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated (15x). fluid leak (7.2x) and coil springs broken (5.8x) 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 Trax specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are suspension joint dust cover missing or no longe... (18x the average) and track rod ends worn (13x). tyre wear or damage (11x) and suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated (9.6x) 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 Trax specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are suspension joint dust cover missing or no longe... (13x the average) and axle or kingpin wear (9.5x).
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 Trax specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
CV joint boot failure Major
The rubber boots protecting the CV joints on the driveshafts fail prematurely on the Trax, allowing dirt and moisture to contaminate the joint grease. Affects T300; typical independent garage repair cost is £80–£150.
Front coil spring failure Major
The front coil springs on the Trax are prone to fracturing, with MOT data showing failures at 39.1 times the national average. Affects T300; typical independent garage repair cost is £150–£250.
Front suspension bush wear
The front suspension bushes on the Trax wear prematurely, with MOT data showing failures at 39.1 times the national average. Affects T300; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£400.
Exhaust system corrosion
The exhaust system on petrol Trax models corrodes prematurely, particularly affecting 1.4-litre variants. Affects T300; 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 Trax common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Chevrolet Trax
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Chevrolet Trax:
Suspension — check for suspension joint dust cover missing or no longe..., suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated, axle or kingpin wear, suspension pin, bush or joint worn, coil springs broken. Steering — check for track rod ends worn. Tyres — check for tyre wear or damage.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about cv joint boot failure and front coil spring failure. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £80. 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 Trax?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Chevrolet Trax MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Chevrolet Trax?
Based on 14,336 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is suspension joint dust cover missing or no longe... — at 23x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated and track rod ends worn.
Is the Chevrolet Trax reliable based on MOT data?
The Chevrolet Trax has 9 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag cv joint boot failure 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 Trax most commonly fails on suspension joint dust cover missing or no longe... and axle or kingpin wear. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are suspension joint dust cover missing or no longe... and suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated.
How do I check a Chevrolet Trax'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.