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Chevrolet Matiz Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Chevrolet Matiz car check

Is the Chevrolet Matiz reliable? We analysed 487,981 real MOT tests across 31,339 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 487,981 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
70.8%
Typical Mileage
39,253mi
Annual Mileage
3,495mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
21yrs

The Chevrolet Matiz is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake binding and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Chevrolet Matiz.

Chevrolet Matiz Number Plates

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

Chevrolet Matiz MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

72.2%
2010
72%
2009
70.7%
2008
70.4%
2007
70.2%
2006
70.2%
2005
67.9%
2004

Chevrolet Matiz Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 17,486
brake binding 11,247
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 10,488
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 5,877
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 5,113
position lamp(s) not working 4,786
Brakes imbalanced across an axle 4,542

Chevrolet Matiz Common Faults & Problems

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 6,714

Chevrolet Matiz Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
1,822 mi/yr
Typical
3,495 mi/yr
Average
4,403 mi/yr
Heavy usage
5,947 mi/yr

Chevrolet Matiz MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2010 23,528 72.2% 23,298 36,750 53,717
2009 104,743 72.0% 22,116 36,213 53,633
2008 93,472 70.7% 26,813 41,215 58,440
2007 109,601 70.4% 25,160 39,823 57,638
2006 84,314 70.2% 23,885 39,000 57,546
2005 71,774 70.2% 26,320 41,260 59,646
2004 84 67.9% 16,870 42,031 65,736

How Long Does a Chevrolet Matiz Last?

Based on 31,339 Chevrolet Matiz vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.9 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
21 years

Chevrolet Matiz Mileage Distribution

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

Median
39,253 mi
75th Percentile
57,086 mi
95th Percentile
86,201 mi
Max Recorded
992,843 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Chevrolet Matiz

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

Best year
2010

72.2% MOT pass rate from 23,528 tests

Year to avoid
2004

67.9% MOT pass rate from 84 tests

The best year to buy a used Chevrolet Matiz is 2010, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 72.2% across 23,528 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 67.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Chevrolet Matiz Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Chevrolet Matiz THIS CAR 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
Chevrolet Kalos 71.1% 221,978 46,909 mi 21 yrs
Mini Clubman 85.9% 207,761 40,898 mi 11 yrs

Compared to the Chevrolet Spark (71.9% pass rate) and the Chevrolet Aveo (69.7% pass rate), the Chevrolet Matiz sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Chevrolet Matiz?

The Chevrolet Matiz has an overall MOT pass rate of 70.8% across 487,981 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Chevrolet Matiz are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (17,486 recorded failures), brake binding (11,247), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (10,488). 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 Matiz 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 Matiz owner drives around 3,495 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 Matiz models stay on UK roads for around 21 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 Matiz — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Chevrolet Matiz reliable?
Based on 487,981 MOT tests, the Chevrolet Matiz has a 70.8% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Chevrolet Matiz?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake binding, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Chevrolet Matiz do per year?
The typical Chevrolet Matiz does around 3,495 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Chevrolet Matiz last?
Most Chevrolet Matiz models stay on UK roads for around 21 years based on our analysis of 31,339 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Chevrolet Matiz?
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 Matiz?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Chevrolet Matiz is 2010 with a 72.2% pass rate across 23,528 tests.