Chevrolet Lacetti
Registered from 2005 to 2011.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2008 1.6 petrol. 184 of 558 tests failed, 33%.
Better than 5% of 2008 cars. The typical one fails 26%, across 922 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 54% | 99 |
| Suspension | 53% | 97 |
| Lights and electrics | 51% | 94 |
| Body and structure | 28% | 51 |
| Tyres and wheels | 21% | 38 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 16% | 30 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Where it stands out against its peers
- Brakes: failed more often than 95% of 2008 cars — 54% of its 184 failed tests, where an ordinary 2008 car has 32%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Brakes — 54% of its failures
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Suspension — 53% of its failures
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Tyres and wheels — 21% of its failures
- Exhaust and emissions — 16% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 51% of its failures
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Body and structure — 28% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
When it starts failing
At 100–120k miles this one fails 40% of its inspections, against the 29% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–40k miles | 16% | 16% | 44 | |
| 40–60k miles | 29% | 20% | 116 | |
| 60–80k miles | 36% | 24% | 131 | |
| 80–100k miles | 36% | 27% | 152 | |
| 100–120k miles | 40% | 29% | 58 |
501 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 60k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.