2015 Mitsubishi Mirage — MOT failures & pass rate
8,495 MOT tests on the 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage are in this dataset, and 88.3% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail 17.5% of the time, so this is 5.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.6%) and visibility (4.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 361 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.0% once past 120-150k — 2.9× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.6% | 474 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.6% | 391 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 348 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.1% | 346 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.1% | 96 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 59 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 361 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 334 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 214 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 169 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 156 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 136 |
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 | 25.2% | 2,140 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.2% | 1,632 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.6% | 726 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.6% | 473 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 278 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 151 |
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 | 2,872 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 3,928 | 12.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,340 | 17.7% |
| 90-120k | 285 | 18.9% |
| 120-150k | 50 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,720 | 10.3% |
| 2022 | 1,672 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 1,700 | 11.2% |
| 2024 | 1,706 | 13.3% |
| 2025 | 1,697 | 13.7% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Mirage
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.6% 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.
- Visibility (4.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.1% 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 Mitsubishi Mirages pass their MOT?
88.3% of the 8,495 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage?
Tyres, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by visibility (4.6%).
Does the 2015 Mirage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 20.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,495 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.