Used car guide · 2009–2014

Chevrolet Cruze common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Chevrolet Cruze, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 15,001 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

15,001MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
4,615on the UK register
2011best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

201420132012201120102009

What usually goes wrong with a Chevrolet Cruze?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Chevrolet Cruze in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Chevrolet Cruze MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

    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.

  • Exhaust system

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

    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.

  • Coil springs

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

    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 warning light

    up to 3.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    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.

  • Side repeaters

    up to 4.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012 and 2014.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

  • Sidelights

    up to 3.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013 and 2014.

    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.

Chevrolet Cruze MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze did best (61% passed first time, 1 point below all 2011 cars) and the 2014 did worst (61%, 9 points below all 2014 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201461%70% -91,404
201360%67% -73,711
201260%64% -44,444
201161%62% -12,954
201057%60% -31,790
200956%59% -3698

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Chevrolet Cruze

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 4× as often on the Chevrolet Cruze as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the Chevrolet Cruze as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the Chevrolet Cruze as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Chevrolet Cruze?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score