Used car guide

2012 Chevrolet Orlando: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Chevrolet Orlandos, from 1,519 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,519MOT tests in 2025
58%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
7,200typical miles a year
4.6×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Chevrolet Orlandos than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Engine oil leaks4.6× usual
    Chevrolet Orlando
    33.5% All 2012 cars
    7.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.2% of all 2012 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.

  • Number plate lights2.1× usual
    Chevrolet Orlando
    15.1% All 2012 cars
    7.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.9%, against 2.1% of all 2012 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.

  • Brake pads1.8× usual
    Chevrolet Orlando
    16.9% All 2012 cars
    9.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 2.2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Individual direction indicators2.7× usual
    Chevrolet Orlando
    8.2% All 2012 cars
    3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 1.2% of all 2012 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 plates2.2× usual
    Chevrolet Orlando
    8.1% All 2012 cars
    3.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.4% of all 2012 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.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 1.9% here, against 10.1% of all 2012 cars. Shock absorbers: 2.4% here, against 6.5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Chevrolet Orlando MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    35% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    35% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    35% 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.

  • Brakes
    33% 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.

  • Suspension
    25% 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.

  • 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 Orlando?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2013685Tyres 38%
20111,043Lights and electrics 39%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Chevrolet Orlandos registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score