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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2009 Chevrolet Matiz MOT fail rate and common faults

How Chevrolet Matiz cars first used in 2009 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 14,632 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 16 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 16 (n=2,881)46.9%
All cars at 16 years (n=4,858,625)42.6%
Difference+4.3 pts
MOT tests of 2009 cars, 2022 to 202514,632

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 16 years old, Chevrolet Matiz cars first used in 2009 failed 46.9% of MOTs (2,881 tests), 4.3 points above the 42.6% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 13 to 16 years old, the fail rate moved from 43.9% to 46.9%.
  • Chevrolet Matiz cars first used a year earlier, in 2008, failed 49.3% at the same age of 16 years (2,162 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Chevrolet Matiz at 16 years, is suspension ball joint worn, at 6.5 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 2.5).

MOT fail rate by test year

Chevrolet Matiz cars first used in 2009: 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
202213 years43.9%4,36238.3%+5.6 pts
202314 years45.9%3,94740.3%+5.7 pts
202415 years46.8%3,44241.6%+5.2 pts
202516 years46.9%2,88142.6%+4.3 pts

Most common faults at 16 years

These figures cover all Chevrolet Matiz MOTs at 16 years: cars first used 2006 to 2009, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=9,248). 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
Suspension ball joint worn6.52.5
Side/position light not working Wear6.55.9
Wipers not clearing screen Wear5.22.6
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength4.71.5
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear4.63.1
Dipped headlight not working Wear4.42.4
Brake light not working Wear4.14.0
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded4.11.6
Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases3.41.8
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Wear3.33.0

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=9,248). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material20.68.8
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear18.918.2
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear11.39.5
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive11.210.7
Wheel bearings: has slight play8.40.9
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened6.911.2
Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Wear6.84.7
Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases6.34.6
Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened5.12.6
Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush5.00.5

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=9,248). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 16 years

These figures cover all Chevrolet Matiz MOTs at 16 years: cars first used 2006 to 2009, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=9,248). 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%49.4%9,24542.6%53,332 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 16 years

These figures cover all Chevrolet Matiz MOTs at 16 years: cars first used 2006 to 2009, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=9,248). At 16 years, Chevrolet Matiz cars at 60,000 to 90,000 miles failed more often (57.2%, n=2,862) than those at under 30,000 miles (31.0%, n=1,211). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Under 30,000 miles31.0%1,21120.6%
30,000 to 60,000 miles48.7%4,30832.1%
60,000 to 90,000 miles57.2%2,86241.4%

Car tax rules for a 2009 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

Other Chevrolet models first used in 2009

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Chevrolet Aveo (2009)16 years in 202553.0%2,26242.6%

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 2009 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.