2015 Skoda Roomster — MOT failures & pass rate
9,652 MOT tests on the 2015 Skoda Roomster are in this dataset, and 88.1% of them passed. MPVs of a similar age fail 17.1% of the time, so this is 5.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.5%) and tyres (4.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, wipers and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 303 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.1% in the 0-30k band and 24.1% in the 150k+ band, a 17.0-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.6pp more often than petrol ones (13.8% vs 11.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 437 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.5% | 434 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.7% | 354 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.2% | 311 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 225 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 91 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 303 |
| 2 | Wipers | 211 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 173 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 163 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 151 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 151 |
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 | 24.9% | 2,405 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.2% | 2,046 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.0% | 1,159 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.0% | 962 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 437 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 316 |
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 | 1,668 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 4,425 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,426 | 14.2% |
| 90-120k | 845 | 18.9% |
| 120-150k | 203 | 22.2% |
| 150k+ | 83 | 24.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 7,434 | 11.3% |
| Diesel | 2,218 | 13.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,880 | 8.2% |
| 2022 | 1,911 | 9.6% |
| 2023 | 1,933 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 1,975 | 14.4% |
| 2025 | 1,953 | 15.1% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Roomster
On a 2015 Roomster, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (4.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.5% 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.
- Suspension (3.7% 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.
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 Skoda Roomsters pass their MOT?
88.1% of the 9,652 2015 Skoda Roomster MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Skoda Roomster?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by tyres (4.5%).
Does the 2015 Roomster get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 24.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,652 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.