Does the Chevrolet Spark fail the MOT on seat belts and airbags more than it should?
The Chevrolet Spark records 1.22 seat belts and airbags failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 0.78 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (+0.44, 95% interval +0.37 to +0.51). It ranks 157 of 627 models on seat belts and airbags (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on seat belts and airbags · check a Chevrolet Spark by registration
What exactly fails on seat belts and airbags?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Chevrolet Spark is “An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction”, recorded 486 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction | 486 | 0.49 |
| Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended | 415 | 0.42 |
| Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type | 76 | 0.08 |
| The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 70 | 0.07 |
| A seat belt webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened | 55 | 0.06 |
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 seat belts and airbags advisory, how often does it fail next time?
1.9% of Chevrolet Spark MOTs with a seat belts and airbags advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 5,162 miles later (1,817 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,817 (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 brakes 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 steering failures · Chevrolet Spark suspension failures · Chevrolet Spark tyres failures · Chevrolet Spark visibility failures