Does the Chevrolet Spark fail the MOT on brakes more than it should?
The Chevrolet Spark records 35.68 brakes failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 11.17 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+24.51, 95% interval +24.13 to +24.88). It ranks 11 of 712 models on brakes (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on brakes · check a Chevrolet Spark by registration
What exactly fails on brakes?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Chevrolet Spark is “Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded”, recorded 11,090 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 11,090 | 11.21 |
| Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 10,508 | 10.62 |
| Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 3,856 | 3.90 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 1,857 | 1.88 |
| Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution. | 1,109 | 1.12 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 98,905 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Chevrolet Spark gets a brakes advisory, how often does it fail next time?
24.6% of Chevrolet Spark MOTs with a brakes advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 3,689 miles later (28,028 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 28,028 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Chevrolet Spark 2010 · Chevrolet Spark 2011 · Chevrolet Spark 2012 · Chevrolet Spark 2013 · Chevrolet Spark 2014 · Chevrolet Spark in the Netherlands · Chevrolet Spark by postcode area · Chevrolet Spark body, chassis and structure failures · Chevrolet Spark vehicle identification failures · Chevrolet Spark lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Chevrolet Spark noise, emissions and leaks failures · Chevrolet Spark road wheels failures · Chevrolet Spark seat belts and airbags failures · Chevrolet Spark steering failures · Chevrolet Spark suspension failures · Chevrolet Spark tyres failures · Chevrolet Spark visibility failures