2015 Renault Master — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Renault Master passed 83.3% of its 4,703 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.7 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 21.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.6%) and brakes (8.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and rbt (sp) — headlamp aim alone was recorded 173 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.3% versus 9.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 19.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 499 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.0% | 377 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.7% | 174 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.1% | 148 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.8% | 133 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 125 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 173 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 151 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 148 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 128 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 105 |
| 6 | Wipers | 102 |
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 | 19.9% | 936 |
| 2 | Tyres | 16.2% | 761 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.9% | 467 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 454 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.2% | 290 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.5% | 210 |
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 | 717 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,079 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 741 | 16.1% |
| 90-120k | 597 | 20.8% |
| 120-150k | 522 | 21.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,040 | 20.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 880 | 14.4% |
| 2022 | 901 | 15.2% |
| 2023 | 931 | 17.2% |
| 2024 | 1,011 | 18.2% |
| 2025 | 980 | 18.2% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Master
On a 2015 Master, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Visibility (3.7% 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.
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 Masters pass their MOT?
83.3% of the 4,703 2015 Renault Master MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Renault Master?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests, followed by brakes (8.0%).
Does the 2015 Master get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 0-30k band to 20.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,703 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.