2015 Honda HR-V — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 15,239 MOT tests, the 2015 Honda HR-V recorded a 90.0% pass rate. Against small SUVs of a similar age (16.4% fail rate), the 2015 HR-V comes out 6.4pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.2%) and brakes (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 429 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.4% in the 0-30k band and 21.7% in the 150k+ band, a 17.3-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.5pp more often than petrol ones (11.1% vs 8.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 640 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.2% | 494 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.1% | 476 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 358 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.2% | 331 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.6% | 87 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 429 |
| 2 | Wipers | 352 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 319 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 295 |
| 5 | Washers | 211 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 175 |
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 | 22.8% | 3,467 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.6% | 2,371 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.7% | 1,480 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.0% | 1,214 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 409 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 272 |
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 | 1,847 | 4.4% |
| 30-60k | 7,048 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 4,578 | 12.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,387 | 15.4% |
| 120-150k | 290 | 16.2% |
| 150k+ | 83 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,773 | 11.1% |
| Petrol | 6,463 | 8.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,978 | 7.3% |
| 2022 | 3,000 | 8.4% |
| 2023 | 3,055 | 10.2% |
| 2024 | 3,078 | 11.6% |
| 2025 | 3,128 | 12.5% |
What to check before buying a 2015 HR-V
On a 2015 HR-V, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.2% 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.
- Brakes (3.2% 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.
- Visibility (3.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Honda HR-Vs pass their MOT?
90.0% of the 15,239 2015 Honda HR-V MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Honda HR-V?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by brakes (3.2%).
Does the 2015 HR-V get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.4% in the 0-30k band to 21.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,239 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.