Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2011 Chevrolet Captiva?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2011 Chevrolet Captiva?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2011 Chevrolet Captiva?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2011 Chevrolet Captiva vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

59% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2011 Chevrolet Captiva reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,647 vehicles, the 2011 Chevrolet Captiva has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2011 Chevrolet Captiva?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2011 Chevrolet Captiva are: Oil leak, but not excessive (115.5% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (81.7% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (69.2% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2011 Chevrolet Captiva?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Chevrolet Captiva (2011)

1,647 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.6% first-time pass rate

2011 Chevrolet Captiva

CarHunch analysed 1,647 real MOT records for the 2011 Chevrolet Captiva. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2011 Chevrolet Captiva struggles at MOT compared to the UK average, with a 72.6% first-time pass rate against the national 80%, and nearly 6 in 10 vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant buyer concern. The diesel engines dominate this cohort and show no better results, so fuel type doesn't improve your odds here.

At 70,000 miles median, these Captivas are racked up to the mileage you'd expect for a 13-year-old, yet they're averaging over 4 failures per test alongside a concerning 28 advisories—suggesting wear and corrosion issues are widespread. Before committing to one, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, cooling system, and undercarriage condition, as the advisory count hints at age-related deterioration rather than one killer fault.

The 2011 Chevrolet Captiva has a below-average first-time pass rate (72.6% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

72.6%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

58.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.18

Over 14.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

70k

Middle half: 57k–83k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 28.1 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 1,647 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,647 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 115.5%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated

Brake wear 81.7%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 59.6%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 37.2%

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil · Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil · Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,647 Chevrolet Captiva cars.

Before you buy a 2011 Chevrolet Captiva

Based on MOT data from 1,647 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 58.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (99%)	1,625	72.6%	4.2

Colour Breakdown

Based on 11,783 Chevrolet Captiva vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 36.3%

4,276

Silver 26%

3,061

Grey 14.4%

1,693

White 9.2%

1,087

Blue 5.4%

640

Brown 4.8%

561

Red 2.2%

263

Green 1.3%

152

Gold 0.2%

Beige 0.1%

Bronze 0.1%

Maroon 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2011 Chevrolet Captiva vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

69,994

typical

57,341

low mileage

83,217

high mileage

Half of all 2011 Chevrolet Captiva vehicles fall between 57,341 and 83,217 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 57,341 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 57,341–83,217 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2011 Chevrolet Captivas sit.

⚠ Over 112,342 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2011 Chevrolet Captiva — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 53% of 2011 Chevrolet Captivas are still active.

825 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 53% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

14.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.18

Avg failures per vehicle

28.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Chevrolet Captiva: All Captiva years → Which year to buy? →

2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014

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Compare with another model

See how the 2011 Chevrolet Captiva stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on