MOT failures by make
Chevrolet MOT failures for “Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play”
Chevrolet cars failed their MOT on “Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play” in 2.30% of 123,727 tests in 2023–2024 (2,844 tests) — 1.6 times as often as comparable cars of the same age, mileage and fuel, which would have failed on it in about 1.42% of tests. It is the number 14 most common failure item on Chevrolets.
Data to 2024-12-30 · Page updated 2026-09-28 · Publisher: 73 Auto
- Chevrolet tests failing on it
- 2.30%
- 2,844 of 123,727 tests, 2023–2024
- Comparable cars
- 1.42%
- national rate at the same age, mileage and fuel
- Observed ÷ expected
- 1.61×
- 73 Auto analysis · rank #14 for Chevrolet
How unusual this is for the make
Across all MOT failures, Chevrolets fail 1.29× as often as comparable cars. On this item the gap is 1.25× wider than that overall level, so it is a genuine Chevrolet pattern rather than a reflection of how often the make fails in general. It is a major defect in the steering part of the test. Nationally it appears on 1.07% of MOT tests.
Chevrolet models and “Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play”
The Chevrolet Aveo is most affected (4.11× comparable cars); the Chevrolet Cruze least (0.05×). Not every model follows the make: the pattern is concentrated in some models. Model rows compare with cars of the same age and fuel.
| Model | Tests | Failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Aveo | 18,782 | 6.56% | 4.11× |
| Chevrolet Captiva | 13,179 | 2.42% | 1.08× |
| Chevrolet Matiz | 22,205 | 1.50% | 0.91× |
| Chevrolet Spark | 30,505 | 1.05% | 0.72× |
| Chevrolet Cruze | 10,708 | 0.07% | 0.05× |
By age at test
The difference is largest at 13-15 years old: 3.61% of Chevrolet tests against 1.42% for comparable cars.
| Age (years) | Chevrolet tests | Chevrolet | Comparable cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9-10 | 22,794 | 0.84% | 1.35% |
| 11-12 | 37,222 | 1.58% | 1.67% |
| 13-15 | 43,360 | 3.61% | 1.42% |
| 16+ | 18,338 | 2.69% | 1.14% |
Other Chevrolet MOT faults that stand out
- Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded · 3.77× comparable cars
- Position lamp: not working · 1.87× comparable cars
- Service brake performance: excessively binding · 2.57× comparable cars
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam · 1.86× comparable cars
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively · 1.77× comparable cars
- Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases · 2.04× comparable cars
- Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction · 1.91× comparable cars
- Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps · 1.63× comparable cars
Limitations
Official data: DVSA's anonymised MOT results (2023–2024), class 4 initial tests, cars at least 2.5 years old. 73 Auto analysis: the comparison rate applies the national rate of this item for each test's own age, mileage band and fuel to the Chevrolet tests. An MOT result reflects maintenance, mileage and how a car is used as well as its design, so this is not a measure of which make is most reliable. The wording of the defect is DVSA's.
Has this Chevrolet failed on it before?
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UK number plate or 17-character VIN
Where these figures come from
- Anonymised MOT tests and results (2023 and 2024) — Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Open Government Licence v3.0.
Figures labelled as 73 Auto estimates are our own analysis of these sources, set out in the methodology and data sources. To report a factual error, see corrections.