Used car guide

2012 Chevrolet Spark: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Chevrolet Sparks, from 3,229 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,229MOT tests in 2025
52%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
5,300typical miles a year
6.3×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

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

  • Rigid brake pipes6.3× usual
    Chevrolet Spark
    34.9% All 2012 cars
    5.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.6%, against 0.8% of all 2012 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 performance2.5× usual
    Chevrolet Spark
    12.4% All 2012 cars
    4.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.2%, against 1.8% of all 2012 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 bushes13.2× usual
    Chevrolet Spark
    7.9% All 2012 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 0.1% of all 2012 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.

  • Brake lights2.8× usual
    Chevrolet Spark
    10.7% All 2012 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.2%, against 3% 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.

  • Exhaust system2.2× usual
    Chevrolet Spark
    12.1% All 2012 cars
    5.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 1.5% of all 2012 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.

By area

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

  • Brakes
    48% 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
    41% 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
    39% 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
    33% 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.

  • 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% 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 Spark?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2014722Brakes 47%
20133,532Brakes 51%
20113,204Brakes 51%
20102,710Brakes 50%

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