2015 Ford Galaxy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 17,489 MOT tests, the 2015 Ford Galaxy recorded a 79.4% pass rate. That is 3.8 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 16.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.3% of all tests — 9.3 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, joints and registration plate lamp(s) — position lamp alone was recorded 2,049 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.0% in the 0-30k band and 21.5% in the 150k+ band, a 11.5-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 3,023 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.0% | 1,393 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 1,061 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.4% | 763 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 569 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.5% | 442 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 2,049 |
| 2 | Joints | 1,068 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 939 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 770 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 715 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 623 |
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 | 27.9% | 4,870 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.4% | 3,735 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 2,232 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.3% | 1,805 |
| 5 | Suspension | 10.1% | 1,772 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 1,228 |
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 | 449 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 3,003 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 4,135 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 3,232 | 23.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,797 | 22.6% |
| 150k+ | 3,836 | 21.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 17,187 | 20.7% |
| Petrol | 302 | 15.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,899 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 3,766 | 19.9% |
| 2023 | 3,494 | 20.0% |
| 2024 | 3,292 | 22.2% |
| 2025 | 3,038 | 22.8% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Galaxy
On a 2015 Galaxy, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (8.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Ford Galaxys pass their MOT?
79.4% of the 17,489 2015 Ford Galaxy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Ford Galaxy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by tyres (8.0%).
Does the 2015 Galaxy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 21.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,489 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.