2010 Chevrolet Spark 1.2L Petrol · KV10 FYT

The 2010 Chevrolet Spark presents a mixed maintenance picture with a worsening trend in the most recent MOT cycle. In the December 2025 test at 95,213 miles, the vehicle passed but carried advisories for a defective front exhaust mounting, worn nearside and offside front lower suspension arm rear bushes, and a severely deteriorated nearside front inner CV boot. Three days prior, the same car had failed on dangerously worn front brake pads, illegal nearside front tyre tread, and an offside front tyre worn on its inner edge. The tester flagged the same suspension and exhaust defects during that failure, indicating these issues were present but not rectified before the pass was issued. This pattern suggests a reactive rather than preventive approach to servicing. The mileage profile is unusual and warrants scrutiny. Between December 2022 at 67,220 miles and December 2023 at 73,342 miles, the car covered roughly 6,100 miles in twelve months. Yet from December 2023 to December 2025, it accumulated just 21,871 miles over two years, averaging around 10,900 miles annually. The jump from 82,302 miles in December 2024 to 95,213 miles by December 2025 represents nearly 13,000 miles in a single year, a notable acceleration after a period of lighter use. The earlier failure on all four tyres in December 2022 at 67,220 miles, combined with the 2025 advisories showing uneven inner tyre wear and a binding offside front brake noted in 2023, points to prolonged neglect of wheel alignment and brake condition. A buyer should prioritise inspecting the front suspension bushes and exhaust mountings for fresh cracking or movement, as these defects recurred across both the failed and passed tests. The severely deteriorated CV boot demands immediate attention; joint failure is likely imminent if grease has escaped and contamination has entered. Front brake components require a thorough check given the dangerously low pad thickness and binding service brake recorded in recent years. Uneven tyre wear patterns suggest ongoing tracking or alignment faults that remain unresolved. Underbody corrosion around mounting points and suspension arms should be examined closely, particularly given the vehicle’s age and the exhaust mounting defect. A pre-purchase inspection focused on these areas is strongly recommended before committing to the purchase.