2015 Mazda Bongo/Friendee — MOT failures & pass rate
276 MOT tests on the 2015 Mazda Bongo/Friendee are in this dataset, and 72.8% of them passed. That is 10.9 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 16.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 21.0% of all tests — 9.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp aim and catalyst emissions — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 28 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.0% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 37.3% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 39.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.0% | 58 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.0% | 33 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 21 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.5% | 18 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 14 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 12 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 28 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 22 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 21 |
| 5 | Wipers | 20 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 18 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 27.2% | 75 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.1% | 61 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.4% | 59 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.0% | 58 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.0% | 36 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.4% | 26 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 81 | 21.0% |
| 90-120k | 83 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 46 | 39.1% |
| 150k+ | 51 | 37.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 58 | 20.7% |
| 2022 | 59 | 27.1% |
| 2023 | 58 | 20.7% |
| 2024 | 45 | 28.9% |
| 2025 | 56 | 39.3% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Bongo/Friendee
On a 2015 Bongo/Friendee, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (21.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.0% 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.
- Brakes (7.6% 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 Mazda Bongo/Friendees pass their MOT?
72.8% of the 276 2015 Mazda Bongo/Friendee MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Mazda Bongo/Friendee?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.0% of tests, followed by suspension (12.0%).
Does the 2015 Bongo/Friendee get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.0% in the 60-90k band to 37.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 276 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.