2015 Mazda Bongo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Mazda Bongo passed 72.6% of its 2,550 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 16.6% of the time, so this is 10.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.9% of tests against 12.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and rear fog lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 207 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 30.7% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 27.3% of the time against 28.0% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 25.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 24.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.9% | 482 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.3% | 314 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 204 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.9% | 177 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.5% | 166 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 156 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 207 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 194 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 183 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 159 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 158 |
| 6 | Wipers | 125 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 25.3% | 644 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.6% | 552 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.5% | 498 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 428 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.0% | 357 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 280 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 87 | 17.2% |
| 60-90k | 576 | 26.4% |
| 90-120k | 694 | 27.0% |
| 120-150k | 564 | 27.1% |
| 150k+ | 623 | 30.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,047 | 27.3% |
| Diesel | 503 | 28.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 589 | 24.8% |
| 2022 | 591 | 27.4% |
| 2023 | 588 | 28.1% |
| 2024 | 395 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 387 | 30.0% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Bongo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.3% 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 (8.0% 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 Bongos pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 2,550 2015 Mazda Bongo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Mazda Bongo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.9% of tests, followed by suspension (12.3%).
Does the 2015 Bongo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.2% in the 30-60k band to 30.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,550 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.