Chevrolet Malibu MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 338 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 36.7%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Chevrolet Malibu MOT Reliability Overview
The Chevrolet Malibu is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 338 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 63.3% and a failure rate of 36.7%, which is around the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Chevrolet Malibu earns a "Average" reliability rating. The average Chevrolet Malibu presents for MOT with approximately 75,949 miles on the clock. The 2008 manufacture year performs best with a 54.8% pass rate.
The most common MOT failure for the Chevrolet Malibu is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 32.8% 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 Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment at 31.1%. Tyres rounds out the top three at 18.0%. 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 | 75.8% | 256 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.8% | 67 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.8% | 67 |
| 4 | Brakes | 19.2% | 65 |
| 5 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 6.2% | 21 |
| 6 | Driver's View Of The Road | 5.0% | 17 |
| 7 | Visibility | 4.1% | 14 |
| 8 | Steering | 3.6% | 12 |
| 9 | Non-component Advisories | 3.3% | 11 |
| 10 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 2.1% | 7 |
| 11 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 2.1% | 7 |
| 12 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 2.1% | 7 |
| 13 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 1.8% | 6 |
| 14 | Registration Plates And Vin | 1.2% | 4 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 75,949 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 | 9.97 | 75.8% | 256 |
| Tyres | 2.61 | 19.8% | 67 |
| Suspension | 2.61 | 19.8% | 67 |
| Brakes | 2.53 | 19.2% | 65 |
| Visibility | 1.21 | 9.1% | 31 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.82 | 6.2% | 21 |
| Steering | 0.47 | 3.6% | 12 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.43 | 3.3% | 11 |
| Body & Structure | 0.27 | 2.1% | 7 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.27 | 2.1% | 7 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.27 | 2.1% | 7 |
| Seat Belts | 0.23 | 1.8% | 6 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.16 | 1.2% | 4 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Chevrolet Malibu has 75,949 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 Malibu has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.83% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Chevrolet Malibu MOT Data
The Chevrolet Malibu is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 338 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 63.3% and a failure rate of 36.7%, which is around the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Chevrolet Malibu owners, these results suggest average reliability — some preparation before MOT can improve pass chances. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 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 Malibu is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.8% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 32.8% of MOT failures on the Chevrolet Malibu. 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.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 31.1% of failures
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment issues account for 31.1% of MOT failures on the Chevrolet Malibu. 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.
Tyres — 18.0% of failures
Tyres issues account for 18.0% of MOT failures on the Chevrolet Malibu. 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 Malibu?
Based on 338 MOT tests in our database, the Chevrolet Malibu has an overall pass rate of 63.3% (36.7% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Chevrolet Malibu?
The top 3 reasons a Chevrolet Malibu fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (32.8%), 2. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (31.1%), 3. Tyres (18.0%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
With a 36.7% MOT failure rate, the Malibu is about average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Chevrolet Malibu?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (32.8%); Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (31.1%); Tyres (18.0%). 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.