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Chevrolet Captiva Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Chevrolet Captiva car check

Is the Chevrolet Captiva reliable? We analysed 171,288 real MOT tests across 11,897 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 171,288 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
70.1%
Typical Mileage
71,562mi
Annual Mileage
7,121mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
19yrs

The Chevrolet Captiva is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and stop lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Chevrolet Captiva.

Chevrolet Captiva Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Chevrolet Captiva. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Chevrolet Captiva MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Chevrolet Captiva to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

75%
2014
74.1%
2013
72.8%
2012
70.8%
2011
68.9%
2010
68.5%
2009
68.9%
2008
69.3%
2007
67.2%
2006

Chevrolet Captiva Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Chevrolet Captiva fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 3,000
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2,987
Stop lamp not working 2,441
Registration plate lamp not working 2,263
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 2,095
position lamp(s) not working 1,919
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 1,733

Chevrolet Captiva Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Chevrolet Captiva models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 3,108

Chevrolet Captiva Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Chevrolet Captiva owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,670 mi/yr
Typical
7,121 mi/yr
Average
7,940 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,162 mi/yr

Chevrolet Captiva MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Chevrolet Captiva year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2014 2,241 75.0% 43,007 63,471 84,600
2013 15,405 74.1% 44,500 64,201 86,072
2012 18,398 72.8% 45,398 66,014 88,053
2011 24,202 70.8% 48,086 70,592 94,478
2010 40,936 68.9% 50,540 75,124 100,521
2009 22,502 68.5% 48,134 72,570 99,915
2008 32,806 68.9% 50,378 74,554 99,922
2007 14,214 69.3% 48,332 72,460 97,881
2006 64 67.2% 55,996 92,847 119,052

How Long Does a Chevrolet Captiva Last?

Based on 11,897 Chevrolet Captiva vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.0 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
19 years

Chevrolet Captiva Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Chevrolet Captiva MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
71,562 mi
75th Percentile
96,448 mi
95th Percentile
133,681 mi
Max Recorded
1,214,106 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Chevrolet Captiva

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2014

75.0% MOT pass rate from 2,241 tests

Year to avoid
2006

67.2% MOT pass rate from 64 tests

The best year to buy a used Chevrolet Captiva is 2014, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 75.0% across 2,241 tests. The 2006 model year has the lowest pass rate at 67.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Chevrolet Captiva Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Chevrolet Captiva THIS CAR 70.1% 171,288 71,562 mi 19 yrs
Chevrolet Matiz 70.8% 487,981 39,253 mi 21 yrs
Chevrolet Spark 71.9% 273,626 47,852 mi 16 yrs
Chevrolet Aveo 69.7% 241,765 48,643 mi 18 yrs
BMW 330 87.7% 130,552 54,284 mi 10 yrs

Compared to the Chevrolet Matiz (70.8% pass rate) and the Chevrolet Spark (71.9% pass rate), the Chevrolet Captiva trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Chevrolet Captiva?

The Chevrolet Captiva has an overall MOT pass rate of 70.1% across 171,288 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Chevrolet Captiva are brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3,000 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2,987), and stop lamp not working (2,441). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Chevrolet Captiva with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Chevrolet Captiva owner drives around 7,121 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Chevrolet Captiva models stay on UK roads for around 19 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Chevrolet Captiva — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Chevrolet Captiva reliable?
Based on 171,288 MOT tests, the Chevrolet Captiva has a 70.1% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Chevrolet Captiva?
The most common MOT failures are brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and stop lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Chevrolet Captiva do per year?
The typical Chevrolet Captiva does around 7,121 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Chevrolet Captiva last?
Most Chevrolet Captiva models stay on UK roads for around 19 years based on our analysis of 11,897 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Chevrolet Captiva?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Chevrolet Captiva?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Chevrolet Captiva is 2014 with a 75.0% pass rate across 2,241 tests.