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Chunlan Starway CL50 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Chunlan Starway CL50 car check

Is the Chunlan Starway CL50 reliable? We analysed 381 real MOT tests across 160 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 381 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
76.6%
Typical Mileage
3,064mi
Annual Mileage
329mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
24yrs

The Chunlan Starway CL50 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake lever has inadequate reserve travel, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and steering lock stop ineffective. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Chunlan Starway CL50.

Chunlan Starway CL50 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Chunlan Starway CL50. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Chunlan Starway CL50 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Chunlan Starway CL50 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

81.2%
2003
73.9%
2002

Chunlan Starway CL50 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Chunlan Starway CL50 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Brake lever has inadequate reserve travel 15
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 12
Steering lock stop ineffective 6
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 6
Direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp 6
wheel bearings have excessive free play 6
shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. 6
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 6
Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user 5
Roller brake test indicates a sticking brake 5

Chunlan Starway CL50 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Chunlan Starway CL50 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
50 mi/yr
Typical
329 mi/yr
Average
808 mi/yr
Heavy usage
896 mi/yr

Chunlan Starway CL50 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Chunlan Starway CL50 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2003 101 81.2% 881 2,264 3,491
2002 249 73.9% 1,563 3,724 5,426

How Long Does a Chunlan Starway CL50 Last?

Based on 160 Chunlan Starway CL50 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
5.8 years
Median
5.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
24 years

Chunlan Starway CL50 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Chunlan Starway CL50 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
3,064 mi
75th Percentile
4,914 mi
95th Percentile
9,381 mi
Max Recorded
26,209 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Chunlan Starway CL50

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

Best year
2003

81.2% MOT pass rate from 101 tests

Year to avoid
2002

73.9% MOT pass rate from 249 tests

The best year to buy a used Chunlan Starway CL50 is 2003, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 81.2% across 101 tests. The 2002 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Chunlan Starway CL50 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Chunlan Starway CL50 THIS CAR 76.6% 381 3,064 mi 24 yrs
Chunlan Starway 75.4% 334 4,551 mi 27 yrs
Sym Mask 125 76.5% 570 11,461 mi — yrs
Suzuki Gsxr 1000 RAM1 94.9% 195 3,430 mi — yrs
Volkswagen Passat Cc TDI 140 81.9% 675 132,239 mi — yrs

Compared to the Chunlan Starway (75.4% pass rate) and the Sym Mask 125 (76.5% pass rate), the Chunlan Starway CL50 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Chunlan Starway CL50?

The Chunlan Starway CL50 has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.6% across 381 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Chunlan Starway CL50 are brake lever has inadequate reserve travel (15 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (12), and steering lock stop ineffective (6). 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.

A typical Chunlan Starway CL50 owner drives around 329 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 Chunlan Starway CL50 models stay on UK roads for around 24 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.

Chunlan Starway CL50 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Chunlan Starway CL50 reliable?
Based on 381 MOT tests, the Chunlan Starway CL50 has a 76.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Chunlan Starway CL50?
The most common MOT failures are brake lever has inadequate reserve travel, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, and steering lock stop ineffective. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Chunlan Starway CL50 do per year?
The typical Chunlan Starway CL50 does around 329 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Chunlan Starway CL50 last?
Most Chunlan Starway CL50 models stay on UK roads for around 24 years based on our analysis of 160 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Chunlan Starway CL50?
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 Chunlan Starway CL50?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Chunlan Starway CL50 is 2003 with a 81.2% pass rate across 101 tests.