2015 Renault Kadjar — MOT failures & pass rate
18,446 MOT tests on the 2015 Renault Kadjar are in this dataset, and 81.3% of them passed. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (15.9% fail rate), the 2015 Kadjar comes out 2.8pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.7%) and lighting & signalling (6.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 809 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.6% in the 0-30k band and 27.5% in the 150k+ band, a 17.9-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 14.6% fail against 19.2% for diesel, a 4.6-point gap across 18,446 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.7% | 1,418 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 1,261 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.5% | 1,189 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.6% | 854 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 612 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 289 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 809 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 792 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 736 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 671 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 599 |
| 6 | Wipers | 356 |
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 | 27.3% | 5,037 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.9% | 4,416 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.5% | 2,853 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.2% | 1,885 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 834 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.5% | 653 |
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 | 802 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 7,427 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 7,249 | 20.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,361 | 25.0% |
| 120-150k | 486 | 27.2% |
| 150k+ | 109 | 27.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 16,261 | 19.2% |
| Petrol | 2,185 | 14.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,458 | 12.9% |
| 2022 | 3,632 | 16.4% |
| 2023 | 3,730 | 18.8% |
| 2024 | 3,790 | 20.9% |
| 2025 | 3,836 | 23.7% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Kadjar
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.5% 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 Renault Kadjars pass their MOT?
81.3% of the 18,446 2015 Renault Kadjar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Renault Kadjar?
Suspension, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.8%).
Does the 2015 Kadjar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 0-30k band to 27.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,446 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.