Does the Chevrolet Spark fail the MOT on steering more than it should?
The Chevrolet Spark records 3.10 steering failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 2.86 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) (+0.24, 95% interval +0.13 to +0.35). It ranks 201 of 640 models on steering (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on steering · check a Chevrolet Spark by registration
What exactly fails on steering?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Chevrolet Spark is “Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated”, recorded 1,683 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated | 1,683 | 1.70 |
| A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 662 | 0.67 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 526 | 0.53 |
| A steering ball joint worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment | 67 | 0.07 |
| Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning | 46 | 0.05 |
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 steering advisory, how often does it fail next time?
10.8% of Chevrolet Spark MOTs with a steering advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 3,946 miles later (1,058 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,058 (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 seat belts and airbags failures · Chevrolet Spark suspension failures · Chevrolet Spark tyres failures · Chevrolet Spark visibility failures