2015 Subaru Brz — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Subaru Brz passed 89.4% of its 669 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.8 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 16.4%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.7%) and visibility (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, catalyst emissions and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 28 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.8% once past 60-90k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 38 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.1% | 21 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 19 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.4% | 16 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 10 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.9% | 6 |
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 | 28 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 18 |
| 3 | Wipers | 16 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 11 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 10 |
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 | 17.6% | 118 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.9% | 113 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.3% | 42 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.5% | 30 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 29 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 16 |
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 | 128 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 365 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 138 | 13.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 140 | 8.6% |
| 2022 | 133 | 6.8% |
| 2023 | 131 | 9.9% |
| 2024 | 129 | 9.3% |
| 2025 | 136 | 18.4% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Brz
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.7% 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.
- Visibility (3.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 Subaru Brzs pass their MOT?
89.4% of the 669 2015 Subaru Brz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Subaru Brz?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by visibility (3.1%).
Does the 2015 Brz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 13.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 669 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.