Used car guide · 2005–2008

Chevrolet Kalos common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Chevrolet Kalos, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 7,477 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

7,477MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
2,398on the UK register
2007best 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).

2008200720062005

What usually goes wrong with a Chevrolet Kalos?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Chevrolet Kalos 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 Kalos 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.

  • Track rod ends

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Braking performance

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

    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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Headlights

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007 and 2008.

    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.

Chevrolet Kalos MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2007 Chevrolet Kalos did best (49% passed first time, 8 points below all 2007 cars) and the 2005 did worst (45%, 12 points below all 2005 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200846%57% -111,922
200749%57% -82,621
200648%56% -81,630
200545%57% -121,304

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Chevrolet Kalos

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

  1. Any recent work on the track rod ends? (Flagged at MOT 2.9× as often on the Chevrolet Kalos as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the Chevrolet Kalos as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the Chevrolet Kalos as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Chevrolet Kalos?

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