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Vauxhall Chevette Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Vauxhall Chevette car check

Is the Vauxhall Chevette reliable? We analysed 7,438 real MOT tests across 1,234 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 7,438 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
74.3%
Typical Mileage
47,032mi
Annual Mileage
501mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
51yrs

The Vauxhall Chevette is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive and seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Chevette.

Vauxhall Chevette Number Plates

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

Vauxhall Chevette MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

68.2%
1984
72.1%
1983
71.6%
1982
72.4%
1981
77.7%
1980
76.1%
1979
79.9%
1978
77%
1977
80.1%
1976
76.1%
1975

Vauxhall Chevette Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 705
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 286
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 219
Steering rack gaiter split 194
Headlamp aim too high 168
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 162
brake binding 162
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 154
brake recording little or no effort 147
fog lamp not working 141

Vauxhall Chevette Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
152 mi/yr
Typical
501 mi/yr
Average
1,629 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,465 mi/yr

Vauxhall Chevette MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1984 663 68.2% 22,419 46,595 76,112
1983 1,489 72.1% 30,784 46,512 65,025
1982 777 71.6% 27,262 46,526 65,707
1981 1,125 72.4% 33,402 49,509 66,747
1980 1,005 77.7% 32,090 47,603 68,220
1979 913 76.1% 33,846 45,321 66,765
1978 648 79.9% 26,244 46,058 66,906
1977 278 77.0% 27,540 45,148 64,695
1976 301 80.1% 33,798 47,470 62,423
1975 176 76.1% 19,925 40,911 63,055

How Long Does a Vauxhall Chevette Last?

Based on 1,234 Vauxhall Chevette vehicles on UK roads.

Average
32.6 years
Median
32.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
51 years

Vauxhall Chevette Mileage Distribution

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

Median
47,032 mi
75th Percentile
66,569 mi
95th Percentile
90,674 mi
Max Recorded
913,899 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Vauxhall Chevette

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

Best year
1976

80.1% MOT pass rate from 301 tests

Year to avoid
1984

68.2% MOT pass rate from 663 tests

The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Chevette is 1976, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.1% across 301 tests. The 1984 model year has the lowest pass rate at 68.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Vauxhall Chevette Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Vauxhall Chevette THIS CAR 74.3% 7,438 47,032 mi 51 yrs
Vauxhall Corsa 69.7% 26,893,546 58,908 mi 33 yrs
Vauxhall Astra 71.9% 25,288,868 76,280 mi 34 yrs
Vauxhall Zafira 71.9% 8,488,627 75,062 mi 27 yrs
Harley-davidson Fxdc 91.1% 2,256 12,707 mi 34 yrs

Compared to the Vauxhall Corsa (69.7% pass rate) and the Vauxhall Astra (71.9% pass rate), the Vauxhall Chevette outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Vauxhall Chevette?

The Vauxhall Chevette has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.3% across 7,438 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Vauxhall Chevette are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (705 recorded failures), exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (286), and seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (219). 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 Vauxhall Chevette owner drives around 501 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 Vauxhall Chevette models stay on UK roads for around 51 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.

Vauxhall Chevette — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Vauxhall Chevette reliable?
Based on 7,438 MOT tests, the Vauxhall Chevette has a 74.3% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Vauxhall Chevette?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive, and seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Vauxhall Chevette do per year?
The typical Vauxhall Chevette does around 501 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Vauxhall Chevette last?
Most Vauxhall Chevette models stay on UK roads for around 51 years based on our analysis of 1,234 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Vauxhall Chevette?
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 Vauxhall Chevette?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Vauxhall Chevette is 1976 with a 80.1% pass rate across 301 tests.