Chevrolet Cobalt MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 138 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 55.1%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Chevrolet Cobalt MOT Reliability Overview
The Chevrolet Cobalt is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 138 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 44.9% and a failure rate of 55.1%, which is significantly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Chevrolet Cobalt earns a "Very Poor" reliability rating. The average Chevrolet Cobalt presents for MOT with approximately 73,579 miles on the clock. The 2005 manufacture year performs best with a 31.1% pass rate.
The most common MOT failure for the Chevrolet Cobalt is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 87.7% of all tests. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. The second most common issue is Suspension at 32.6%. Tyres rounds out the top three at 26.1%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 140.6% | 194 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.7% | 52 |
| 3 | Tyres | 31.9% | 44 |
| 4 | Brakes | 15.9% | 22 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.8% | 8 |
| 6 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 3.6% | 5 |
| 7 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 3.6% | 5 |
| 8 | Driver's View Of The Road | 3.6% | 5 |
| 9 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 2.2% | 3 |
| 10 | Items Not Tested | 1.4% | 2 |
| 11 | Road Wheels | 1.4% | 2 |
| 12 | Registration Plates And Vin | 0.7% | 1 |
| 13 | Visibility | 0.7% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 73,579 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 19.10 | 140.6% | 194 |
| Suspension | 5.12 | 37.7% | 52 |
| Tyres | 4.33 | 31.9% | 44 |
| Brakes | 2.17 | 15.9% | 22 |
| Steering | 0.79 | 5.8% | 8 |
| Visibility | 0.59 | 4.3% | 6 |
| Seat Belts | 0.49 | 3.6% | 5 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.49 | 3.6% | 5 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.30 | 2.2% | 3 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.20 | 1.4% | 2 |
| Wheels | 0.20 | 1.4% | 2 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.10 | 0.7% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Chevrolet Cobalt has 73,579 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Chevrolet Cobalt has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 7.49% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Chevrolet Cobalt MOT Data
The Chevrolet Cobalt is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 138 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 44.9% and a failure rate of 55.1%, which is significantly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Chevrolet Cobalt owners, these results suggest above-average failure risk — thorough pre-MOT checks are recommended. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and suspension for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Cobalt is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 87.7% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 87.7% of MOT failures on the Chevrolet Cobalt. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Suspension — 32.6% of failures
Suspension issues account for 32.6% of MOT failures on the Chevrolet Cobalt. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Tyres — 26.1% of failures
Tyres issues account for 26.1% of MOT failures on the Chevrolet Cobalt. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Chevrolet Cobalt?
Based on 138 MOT tests in our database, the Chevrolet Cobalt has an overall pass rate of 44.9% (55.1% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Chevrolet Cobalt?
The top 3 reasons a Chevrolet Cobalt fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (87.7%), 2. Suspension (32.6%), 3. Tyres (26.1%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Chevrolet Cobalt reliable?
With a 55.1% MOT failure rate, the Cobalt is less reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Chevrolet Cobalt?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (87.7%); Suspension (32.6%); Tyres (26.1%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.