Used car guide

2011 Chevrolet Spark: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Chevrolet Sparks, from 3,204 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,204MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
5,100typical miles a year
5.6×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Chevrolet Sparks than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Rigid brake pipes5.6× usual
    Chevrolet Spark
    34.4% All 2011 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.6%, against 1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Braking performance2.9× usual
    Chevrolet Spark
    15.8% All 2011 cars
    5.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.7%, against 2.1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Front strut mounts and bushes13× usual
    Chevrolet Spark
    9.1% All 2011 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 0.1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£400 our estimate

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

  • Number plate lights1.8× usual
    Chevrolet Spark
    14.5% All 2011 cars
    8.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 2.3% of all 2011 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.

  • Exhaust system1.8× usual
    Chevrolet Spark
    11.6% All 2011 cars
    6.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 1.7% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

Better than most

Ball joint: 3% here, against 6.1% of all 2011 cars.

By area

The share of 2011 Chevrolet Spark MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    51% 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
    42% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    38% 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
    34% 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
    13% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    12% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Chevrolet Spark?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2014722Brakes 47%
20133,532Brakes 51%
20123,229Brakes 48%
20102,710Brakes 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2011 Chevrolet Sparks registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score