2015 Dacia Duster — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 35,852 MOT tests, the 2015 Dacia Duster recorded an 80.6% pass rate. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 16.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.6% of all tests — 7.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, horn and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,328 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 33.3% versus 8.1%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 19.4% of the time against 19.8% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 4,857 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.0% | 2,170 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.5% | 1,991 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.7% | 1,686 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 1,513 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 1,041 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 2,328 |
| 2 | Horn | 1,555 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 1,299 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,188 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,044 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 806 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 24.1% | 8,659 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.9% | 7,146 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.0% | 3,585 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.8% | 2,813 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 2,387 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 1,367 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 2,886 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 13,122 | 15.1% |
| 60-90k | 12,912 | 22.0% |
| 90-120k | 5,130 | 26.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,333 | 28.5% |
| 150k+ | 459 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 34,091 | 19.4% |
| Petrol | 1,761 | 19.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,884 | 14.4% |
| 2022 | 7,133 | 17.2% |
| 2023 | 7,233 | 19.6% |
| 2024 | 7,314 | 21.6% |
| 2025 | 7,288 | 23.9% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Duster
On a 2015 Duster, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (5.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2015 Dacia Dusters pass their MOT?
80.6% of the 35,852 2015 Dacia Duster MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Dacia Duster?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by suspension (6.0%).
Does the 2015 Duster get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 33.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 35,852 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.