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Chevrolet Spark, Buying guide, MOT record, UK numbers and recalls

11,879 Chevrolet Sparks are licensed in the UK. In 2025 they passed 54.5% of initial MOT tests, 17.8 points below the 72.3% UK average.

Looking at a specific Spark? Check its finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history. £15, no account needed.

Chevrolet Spark at the MOT

54.5% of 13,365 initial tests passed in 2025, ranking the Spark 544th of 575 models. Chevrolet Sparks aged 6 to 10 years passed 63.7% of MOT tests in 2025; for examples aged 11 years and over that fell to 54.3%.

First-time pass rate, 2025

Share of initial tests passed, retests excluded.

  • Chevrolet Spark54.5%
  • All Chevrolet modelsLevel with the Spark54.9%
  • All cars72.3%

Pass rate by age at test

Chevrolet Spark tests in 2025.

  • 6 to 10 years270 tests63.7%
  • 11 years and over13,094 tests54.3%

Where Sparks fail

Share of all failure items recorded on Chevrolet Spark tests in 2025.

  • Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment28.5%
  • Brakes24.4%
  • Suspension20%
  • Tyres8.1%
  • Visibility7.7%

The items testers recorded most often were position lamp not working (8.5%), rigid brake pipes excessively corroded (7.8%) and stop lamp not working (6.1%).

The MOT page lists every common Spark MOT failure. For one car's own results and advisories, run a free MOT history check.

Full Chevrolet Spark MOT record

What to look at on a viewing

The Spark's most common failure areas, and what a tester checks in each.

  1. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

    Walk round with every light on: headlights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp. Check no warning lights stay on after starting.28.5% of Spark failure items

  2. Brakes

    Make sure the pedal feels firm, the car stops in a straight line, the handbrake holds on a slope and no brake warning light is showing.24.4% of Spark failure items

  3. Suspension

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for leaking shock absorbers and split rubber gaiters.20% of Spark failure items

Chevrolet Sparks in the UK

11,879 were licensed at the end of June 2026, more than any other Chevrolet. The number licensed has fallen 38% since the end of 2014.

Change since 2014
−38%from 19,243 licensed
Typical year of first use
2012half of those licensed at the end of 2025 were first used in 2012 or earlier
Declared off the road
9777.6% of those registered, under SORN

Licensed Chevrolet Sparks since 2014

Licensed at each year end and in the latest quarter.

Show the figures
DateLicensed
End of 201419,243
End of 201519,051
End of 201619,037
End of 201718,781
End of 201818,458
End of 201918,022
End of 202017,470
End of 202116,844
End of 202216,147
End of 202315,325
End of 202414,124
End of 202512,680
End of June 202611,879

How old they are

Licensed Chevrolet Sparks by year of first use.

Show the figures
First usedLicensed, end 2025
2014784
20133,383
20123,023
20112,945
20102,501

Spark engine sizes

1.0 litre engines made up 51% of Chevrolet Spark MOT tests in 2025, followed by 1.2 litre at 46%. Petrol accounts for 100% of licensed Sparks.

Engine size at MOT, 2025

Share of 13,364 initial MOT tests in 2025.

  • 1.0 litre50.7%
  • 1.2 litre45.6%
  • 0.9 litre3.7%

Chevrolet Spark recalls

8 DVSA safety recalls launched from 1992 to October 2026 name the Chevrolet Spark. Each covers vehicles built in a set period, so a recall does not mean every Spark is affected.

  1. Dec 2023 R/2024/003

    Chevrolet UK Spark Hood Striker Replacement

    Sparks built Jan 2010 to Dec 2015

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    On affected vehicles the secondary hood latch lever may prematurely corrode at the pivot. If severely corroded the secondary latch striker may become stuck out of position and fail to properly engage.
    Remedy
    Replace hood striker assembly with one that has improved corrosion resistance.

  2. Apr 2015 R/2015/087

    Clutch pedal may fail

    Sparks built Jul 2009 to Oct 2012 · 14,659 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    Spark vehicles may in some instances experience breakage on clutch pedal pivot area due to inaccurate height adjustment of clutch pedal
    Remedy
    Adjust clutch pedal height and where required fit reinforcing bracket.

  3. Feb 2015 R/2015/017

    Secondary bonnet catch may not engage

    Sparks built Jun 2009 to Jul 2014 · 20,089 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    The Hood Striker Secondary Latch may suffer from a build-up of corrosion. If this condition occurs the Hood Striker Secondary Latch may not return to the correct position when released. In such an event and especially when the primary locking device is not engaged correctly there is a potential the hood can open while the vehicle is being driven.
    Remedy
    Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the Hood Striker Secondary Latch.

  4. Dec 2014 R/2014/181

    Braking performance may be reduced

    Sparks built Dec 2008 to Oct 2009 · 8,194 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    On affected vehicles the ABS valve may stick. The brakes will still function but the driver may experience a spongy feel when operating the brake pedal or excessive pedal travel.
    Remedy
    Carry out diagnostic check on ABS system. If outcome is within manufacturers specification drain and replace brake fluid. If outcome is not within manufacturer's specification replace ABS valve and drain and replace brake fluid.

  5. Nov 2014 R/2014/152

    Loss of transmission

    Sparks built May 2013 to Dec 2013 · 2,057 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    It has been identified that the transmission mounting could fail. This may allow the transmission to drop and cause the drive-shaft to disconnect resulting in loss of drive to the road wheels.
    Remedy
    Recall all affected vehicles and replace the transmission mountings.

  6. Feb 2014 R/2014/022

    Transmission mount failure may cause loss of drive

    Sparks built May 2013 to Jun 2013 · 432 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    It is possible under certain conditions that the gearbox mounting may fail and allow the transmission to drop. This can result in the loss of drive due to the disconnection of the drive shaft.
    Remedy
    Recall all affected vehicles to check and if required replace the transmission mountings.

  7. Jan 2014 R/2013/148

    Clutch and gear selection may be lost

    Sparks built Jul 2009 to Sep 2010 · 8,314 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    The clutch pedal pivot may fail which will render the vehicle unable to change and or select gear. Braking and directional control will not be affected.
    Remedy
    Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected to install a reinforcement support bracket to the clutch pedal pivot.

  8. Aug 2012 R/2012/090

    Braking efficiency may be affected

    Sparks built Jan 2007 to Dec 2009 · 38,876 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    Incorrect type of brake fluid installed at production could cause internal corrosion of the ABS module. This corrosion can lead to a gel build up inside the module which may affect the closing motion of one of the valves. There will be no external loss of fluid or reduction in fluid level but it is possible the driver could feel excessive brake pedal travel. In some circumstances there may be reduced braking performance.
    Remedy
    Inspection of the brake fluid using a scan tool. Drain and replace the fluid and replace the brake fluid reservoir cap (All models except Captiva & Epica/Tosca). Erase ''DOT 3'' text from the customers Owner's Manual (All models except Captiva & Epica/Tosca). Add information regarding the use of DOT 4 brake fluid.
How to check a specific Spark for recalls

Other Chevrolet models

The most-tested Chevrolet models in 2025, against the Spark's 54.5% MOT pass rate.

All 8 Chevrolet models

Chevrolet Spark FAQs

How many Chevrolet Sparks are there in the UK?

11,879 Chevrolet Sparks were licensed in the UK at the end of June 2026, with a further 977 declared off the road (SORN), according to DfT vehicle licensing statistics.

Is the Chevrolet Spark reliable?

MOT data does not measure reliability. It records whether a car met the roadworthiness standard on the day of its test. What it does show is a 54.5% first-time pass rate for the Chevrolet Spark across 13,365 tests in 2025, below the 72.3% average for all cars.

Has the Chevrolet Spark had any recalls?

8 DVSA safety recalls launched from 1992 to October 2026 name the Chevrolet Spark. The most recent was published in December 2023. A recall applies to vehicles built in a set period, so check a specific car on the GOV.UK vehicle recall checker.

What should I check before buying a used Chevrolet Spark?

On the car itself, start with the areas it most often fails on: lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, brakes and suspension. Then check the individual car's own records. Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and police stolen markers are not part of the MOT record, so they take a history check.

How do I check a Chevrolet Spark's history?

Enter the registration of the specific car. A Carpeep car history check reports outstanding finance, write-off category, stolen markers, mileage history, previous keepers, MOT and tax status, import and export markers and scrapped status in one £15 report.

Already found a Spark?

Check its finance, write-off, theft, mileage and keeper history with a £15 vehicle history report.

Across the 1,548 vehicles of every make Carpeep has checked since November 2025, 19% had outstanding finance recorded and 13% an insurance write-off. More on the Chevrolet history check.

  • Outstanding finance
  • Write-off records
  • Stolen markers
  • Mileage history
  • Previous keepers

MOT figures are aggregated from the DVSA MOT Anonymised data set for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, retests excluded), which also gives the engine sizes. Licensed, SORN, fuel and registration figures are from the Department for Transport vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0120, VEH0124, VEH0160). Recalls are from the DVSA vehicle recalls data, with recalls launched up to October 2026. Government data is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. MOT results describe roadworthiness at test, not mechanical reliability. History-check findings are anonymous counts from reports bought on Carpeep, each vehicle counted once, and are published only where at least 100 vehicles returned an answer.