Used car guide

2014 Chevrolet Cruze: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2014 Chevrolet Cruzes, from 421 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 421 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

421MOT tests in 2025
60%pass first time (all 2014 cars: 69%)
7,400typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for coil springs

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2014 Chevrolet Cruzes than on all cars registered in 2014.

  • Coil springs2.4× usual
    Chevrolet Cruze
    16.4% All 2014 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10%, against 3.4% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Engine oil leaks3× usual
    Chevrolet Cruze
    12.8% All 2014 cars
    4.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.1% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Sidelights3.6× usual
    Chevrolet Cruze
    10% All 2014 cars
    2.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.8%, against 2.4% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Number plate lights2.2× usual
    Chevrolet Cruze
    11.2% All 2014 cars
    5.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 1.5% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

By area

The share of 2014 Chevrolet Cruze MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    31% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    29% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    29% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    24% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    14% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    13% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Chevrolet Cruze?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20131,138Lights and electrics 35%
20121,313Tyres 36%
2011859Lights and electrics 35%
2010468Suspension 44%
2009183Suspension 49%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2014 Chevrolet Cruzes registered in 2014. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score