2015 Nissan Leaf — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 24,677 MOT tests, the 2015 Nissan Leaf recorded an 80.1% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (15.6% fail rate), the 2015 Leaf comes out 4.3pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 10.2% of tests against 6.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, tread depth and wipers — ball joint alone was recorded 2,211 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.5% in the 0-30k band and 25.2% in the 150k+ band, a 14.7-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.2% | 2,513 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.3% | 1,566 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.2% | 1,522 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 1,030 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 948 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 105 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 2,211 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 943 |
| 3 | Wipers | 696 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 606 |
| 5 | Parking brake performance | 446 |
| 6 | Washers | 444 |
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 | 27.8% | 6,859 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.3% | 6,488 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.9% | 4,917 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.0% | 1,740 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 864 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 355 |
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 | 3,391 | 10.5% |
| 30-60k | 13,203 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 6,437 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,286 | 29.4% |
| 120-150k | 246 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 111 | 25.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,662 | 14.1% |
| 2022 | 4,830 | 16.1% |
| 2023 | 5,018 | 21.1% |
| 2024 | 5,081 | 23.3% |
| 2025 | 5,086 | 24.4% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Leaf
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 10.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (10.2% 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.
- Tyres (6.3% 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 (6.2% 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 Nissan Leafs pass their MOT?
80.1% of the 24,677 2015 Nissan Leaf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Nissan Leaf?
Suspension, recorded in 10.2% of tests, followed by tyres (6.3%).
Does the 2015 Leaf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.5% in the 0-30k band to 25.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,677 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.