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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2008 Chevrolet Matiz MOT fail rate and common faults

How Chevrolet Matiz cars first used in 2008 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 9,384 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 17 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 17 (n=1,720)48.5%
All cars at 17 years (n=4,040,458)43.1%
Difference+5.5 pts
MOT tests of 2008 cars, 2022 to 20259,384

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 17 years old, Chevrolet Matiz cars first used in 2008 failed 48.5% of MOTs (1,720 tests), 5.5 points above the 43.1% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 14 to 17 years old, the fail rate moved from 48.4% to 48.5%.
  • Chevrolet Matiz cars first used a year earlier, in 2007, failed 51.6% at the same age of 17 years (2,022 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Chevrolet Matiz at 17 years, is component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength, at 6.8 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 1.9).

MOT fail rate by test year

Chevrolet Matiz cars first used in 2008: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
202214 years48.4%2,94840.3%+8.2 pts
202315 years47.4%2,55441.6%+5.8 pts
202416 years49.3%2,16242.6%+6.7 pts
202517 years48.5%1,72043.1%+5.5 pts

Most common faults at 17 years

These figures cover all Chevrolet Matiz MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=6,174). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength6.81.9
Side/position light not working Wear6.75.8
Suspension ball joint worn6.72.4
Wipers not clearing screen Wear5.92.8
Engine warning lamp at the petrol emissions check: not working or showing a fault5.42.2
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Wear4.93.6
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear4.33.0
Seat belt prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced4.00.7
Brake light not working Wear4.04.0
Service brake imbalance: across an axle3.90.6

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=6,174). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear18.817.9
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material18.810.5
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear11.99.6
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive11.311.7
Wheel bearings: has slight play9.21.1
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened7.511.3
Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases7.34.8
Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Wear7.25.1
Headlamp: lens slightly defective Wear6.63.7
Headlamp: has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output Wear6.03.3

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=6,174). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 17 years

These figures cover all Chevrolet Matiz MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=6,174). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Petrol100.0%50.7%6,17143.2%54,824 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 17 years

These figures cover all Chevrolet Matiz MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=6,174). At 17 years, Chevrolet Matiz cars at 60,000 to 90,000 miles failed more often (58.0%, n=2,025) than those at 30,000 to 60,000 miles (48.6%, n=2,847). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
30,000 to 60,000 miles48.6%2,84732.5%
60,000 to 90,000 miles58.0%2,02541.7%

Car tax rules for a 2008 car

  • Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Chevrolet Matiz

More on the Chevrolet Matiz

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2008 Chevrolet Matiz cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.