2015 Kia Venga — MOT failures & pass rate
35,058 MOT tests on the 2015 Kia Venga are in this dataset, and 88.1% of them passed. MPVs of a similar age fail 17.1% of the time, so this is 5.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.0% of tests against 4.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 1,252 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.2% once past 150k — 3.6× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 10.9% fail against 14.8% for diesel, a 3.8-point gap across 35,049 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 2,815 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.5% | 1,559 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.7% | 1,309 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 1,117 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.2% | 425 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.2% | 417 |
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 | 1,252 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 933 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 833 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 767 |
| 5 | Washers | 721 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 601 |
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 | 24.5% | 8,584 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.8% | 7,281 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.9% | 2,410 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.8% | 1,679 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 957 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 578 |
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 | 9,173 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 17,634 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 6,521 | 17.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,389 | 22.5% |
| 120-150k | 283 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 56 | 23.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 26,299 | 10.9% |
| Diesel | 8,750 | 14.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,890 | 9.4% |
| 2022 | 6,913 | 10.1% |
| 2023 | 7,063 | 12.1% |
| 2024 | 7,099 | 13.3% |
| 2025 | 7,093 | 14.6% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Venga
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.5% 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 (3.7% 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 Kia Vengas pass their MOT?
88.1% of the 35,058 2015 Kia Venga MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Kia Venga?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by tyres (4.5%).
Does the 2015 Venga get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 23.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 35,058 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.