2015 Renault Kangoo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 27,391 MOT tests, the 2015 Renault Kangoo recorded a 73.9% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (21.3% fail rate), the 2015 Kangoo comes out 4.8pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests against 11.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, rigid brake pipes and position lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 2,084 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.4% versus 19.1%.
Fuel type barely separates them — electric fails 24.8% of the time against 26.2% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 4,509 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.8% | 3,229 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.2% | 2,518 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.0% | 1,930 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.6% | 1,794 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 1,285 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 2,084 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,737 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,540 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,537 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,439 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,396 |
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 | 33.1% | 9,067 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.9% | 7,908 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 4,074 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.1% | 3,321 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.9% | 2,715 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.5% | 2,064 |
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 | 1,008 | 19.1% |
| 30-60k | 4,044 | 20.4% |
| 60-90k | 7,025 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 6,712 | 27.7% |
| 120-150k | 4,682 | 30.2% |
| 150k+ | 3,915 | 29.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 26,768 | 26.2% |
| Electric | 608 | 24.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,517 | 22.5% |
| 2022 | 5,556 | 24.6% |
| 2023 | 5,609 | 27.0% |
| 2024 | 5,460 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 5,249 | 28.6% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Kangoo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.8% 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 (9.2% 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 Renault Kangoos pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 27,391 2015 Renault Kangoo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Renault Kangoo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by suspension (11.8%).
Does the 2015 Kangoo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 0-30k band to 29.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,391 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.