IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
2006–2008 Chevrolet Kalos

We've identified 3 known issues that can affect the 2006–2008 Chevrolet Kalos. None are considered critical, but they're worth knowing about before you buy.

3
Known Issues
0
Serious
2
Moderate
1
Minor

All Known Issues

Front Coil Spring Fractures and Suspension Bush Wear

ModerateSuspension & Chassis

The front suspension configuration of the Kalos suffers significant wear on typical potholed and speed-bump-heavy UK roads. The lower coils of the front suspension springs are vulnerable to road salt corrosion and stress fatigue, leading to sudden snapping. Concurrently, the front lower wishbone rubber bushes and anti-roll bar link rods develop excessive play, causing vague steering, wandering under braking, and MOT test failure.

Est. Repair Cost: £150–£350
Warning Signs:

Metallic pinging or grinding noise from the front wheel arches when turning the steering wheel, Visible tilt or sagging on one corner of the car when parked on level ground, Persistent knocking and rattling over speed humps and rough tarmac, Car pulls noticeably to one side under straight-line braking

What to Inspect:
  • Inspect both front coil springs with a torch, feeling the lowest coil cups for broken or displaced spring sections
  • Pry against the lower wishbone rubber bushes to inspect for splits, perished rubber, or separation
  • Grip the anti-roll bar drop links and shake firmly to identify loose ball joints
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Airbag SRS Warning Light and Under-Seat Connector Fault

ModerateElectrics & Electronics

A very frequent fault across the Kalos range involves intermittent illumination of the supplemental restraint system (SRS) airbag warning lamp. The multi-pin electrical harness connectors situated beneath the front driver and passenger seats suffer from high resistance due to slight wire stretching when adjusting seat position, or tarnished contact pins. Once triggered, the SRS module disables airbag deployment and latches a permanent warning code that causes an instant MOT failure.

Est. Repair Cost: £80–£200
Warning Signs:

Red Airbag or SRS warning lamp remains illuminated permanently on the instrument cluster, Warning light illuminates immediately following adjustment of the front seat slide positions, Inability to pass the UK annual MOT inspection due to the airbag malfunction warning, Stored airbag squib high-resistance fault codes present in the restraint module

What to Inspect:
  • Turn ignition to position two and verify that the airbag lamp illuminates and goes out within five seconds
  • Inspect the yellow wiring harness and plastic multi-plug connectors located under both front seats for loose fitting
  • Scan the airbag control unit with a dedicated SRS diagnostic scanner to read active resistance values
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Sloppy Manual Gearshift with Wide Gate

MinorGearbox & Transmission

The Kalos manual gearbox has a sloppy, imprecise shift action with a wide gate, so it is easy to accidentally select third instead of fifth when downshifting. The gear-linkage and selector mechanism wear with use, making the change vague and requiring deliberate, careful shifts. Auto Express criticised the Kalos gearbox for its sloppy feel and wide gate, and the fault is easy to confirm on a test drive by shifting through every gear. It is a drivability niggle rather than a safety issue, but it worsens with mileage.

Est. Repair Cost: £80–£250
Warning Signs:

Sloppy or vague gearshift action, Wide gate between gear positions, Easy to select the wrong gear, Requires careful, deliberate shifting

What to Inspect:
  • Shift through all gears on a test drive
  • Check how easy it is to select the wrong gear
  • Feel for slack or play in the linkage
  • Test downshifts from fifth toward third
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Buying Tips for 2006–2008 Chevrolet Kalos

  • Inspect the structural sill ends, rear wheel arch lips, and front subframe mounting points for severe rust
  • Verify that the timing belt and tensioners on 1.4-litre models have been replaced within the specified 40,000-mile or 4-year limit
  • Check that the airbag SRS warning lamp extinguishes after start-up, as under-seat wiring connectors are prone to intermittent faults
  • Test gear selection across all forward gears and reverse, ensuring the gear linkage bushes have not worn excessively loose
  • Examine the front suspension lower arms, coil springs, and anti-roll bar drop links for MOT-failing play and cracks
2005
Check a 2006–2008 Chevrolet Kalos by Registration