2015 Lotus Exige — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Lotus Exige passed 93.9% of its 475 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 16.4% of the time, so this is 10.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 4.6% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, registration plates and stop lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 15 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 10.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 22 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.3% | 6 |
| 3 | Tyres | 1.1% | 5 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.8% | 4 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.8% | 4 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.6% | 3 |
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 | 15 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 7 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 4 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 3 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 3 |
| 6 | Wipers | 3 |
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 | 10.7% | 51 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.8% | 42 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.1% | 29 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.9% | 9 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 8 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.1% | 5 |
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 | 428 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 43 | 7.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 97 | 6.2% |
| 2022 | 96 | 4.2% |
| 2023 | 94 | 3.2% |
| 2024 | 94 | 9.6% |
| 2025 | 94 | 7.4% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Exige
On a 2015 Exige, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (4.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.3% 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.
- Tyres (1.1% 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.
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 Lotus Exiges pass their MOT?
93.9% of the 475 2015 Lotus Exige MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Lotus Exige?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by visibility (1.3%).
Does the 2015 Exige get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 7.0% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 475 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.