Used car guide · 2005–2010

Chevrolet Matiz common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Chevrolet Matiz, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 8,165 MOTs done during 2025), and what to check before you buy one.

8,165MOTs done in 2025, all years of this model
8,815on the UK register
2009best 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).

201020092008200720062005

What usually goes wrong with a Chevrolet Matiz?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Chevrolet Matiz 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 Matiz 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 2025.

  • Wheel bearings

    up to 7.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 3.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

    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.

  • Brakes pulling to one side

    up to 5.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007 and 2009.

    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.

  • Exhaust system

    up to 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2008 and 2010.

    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.

  • Front strut mounts and bushes

    up to 10.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009 and 2010.

    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.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints

    up to 8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Chevrolet Matiz MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2009 Chevrolet Matiz did best (53% passed first time, 5 points below all 2009 cars) and the 2006 did worst (45%, 12 points below all 2006 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201050%59% -9697
200953%58% -52,870
200851%57% -61,716
200749%57% -81,564
200645%57% -12917
200547%58% -11401 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Chevrolet Matiz

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

  1. Any recent work on the wheel bearings? (Flagged at MOT 7.6× as often on the Chevrolet Matiz as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 3.4× as often on the Chevrolet Matiz as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the brakes pulling to one side? (Flagged at MOT 5.5× as often on the Chevrolet Matiz as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Chevrolet Matiz?

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 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