MOT cost .
Daewoo Kalos
MOT 2023
Wikimedia

Daewoo

Kalos

893 MOT tests analysed. runs below the UK fleet average — here's where Kaloss pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.

That's 14.6 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,988 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.

Pass

61.1%

Pass-after-fix

7.1%

Fail

31.0%

Avg miles

69,396

Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%

The picture

Kalos: a below-average pass rate worth digging into

Across 893 MOT tests, the Kalos returns 61.1% first-time pass — well below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a defective headlamp lens. The strength or continuity of the load bearing and worn suspension bushes round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 69,396, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.

Top ten reasons for rejection.

  1. 01

    Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective

    117 occurrences · 13.1% of tests

  2. 02

    The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

    95 occurrences · 10.6% of tests

  3. 03

    A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

    57 occurrences · 6.4% of tests

  4. 04

    Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction

    43 occurrences · 4.8% of tests

  5. 05

    A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources

    40 occurrences · 4.5% of tests

  6. 06

    A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play

    33 occurrences · 3.7% of tests

  7. 07

    The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

    33 occurrences · 3.7% of tests

  8. 08

    Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake

    29 occurrences · 3.2% of tests

  9. 09

    The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

    28 occurrences · 3.1% of tests

  10. 10

    Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded

    27 occurrences · 3.0% of tests

Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.

Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures

£98–£355

If every one of this Kalos's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →

Try the calculator

Build your own retest budget.

Tools that pre-empt a retest.

Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.

Item 01 · Amazon UK

Headlight restoration kit

Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.

Search Amazon UK

Item 02 · Amazon UK

H7 / W21W bulb pack

A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.

Search Amazon UK

Buying or keeping a Kalos?

Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.

If you own a Kalos and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.