2015 Jaguar XJ — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,284 MOT tests, the 2015 Jaguar XJ recorded an 87.9% pass rate. That is 2.0 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 14.0%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 6.0% of tests against 2.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 145 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.1% in the 0-30k band and 21.4% in the 150k+ band, a 15.3-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.0% | 315 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.8% | 147 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 138 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.3% | 121 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 120 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 43 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 145 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 80 |
| 3 | Washers | 80 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 74 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 64 |
| 6 | Wipers | 61 |
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 | 25.6% | 1,354 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.4% | 653 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.8% | 413 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.3% | 174 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 154 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 124 |
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 | 607 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,172 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,569 | 13.1% |
| 90-120k | 634 | 16.7% |
| 120-150k | 218 | 19.7% |
| 150k+ | 84 | 21.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,992 | 12.3% |
| Petrol | 292 | 8.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,072 | 11.0% |
| 2022 | 1,083 | 12.2% |
| 2023 | 1,061 | 11.9% |
| 2024 | 1,032 | 12.0% |
| 2025 | 1,036 | 13.3% |
What to check before buying a 2015 XJ
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.0% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.0% 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.
- Suspension (2.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 Jaguar XJs pass their MOT?
87.9% of the 5,284 2015 Jaguar XJ MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Jaguar XJ?
Tyres, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by suspension (2.8%).
Does the 2015 XJ get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 21.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,284 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.