2015 Vauxhall Adam — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Vauxhall Adam passed 80.8% of its 66,253 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.6 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 15.6%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 8.7% of tests against 5.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, shock absorbers and coil spring — track rod end alone was recorded 4,295 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.6% once past 120-150k — 2.0× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.7% | 5,747 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 3,672 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.4% | 3,598 |
| 4 | Steering | 4.9% | 3,239 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 2,800 |
| 6 | Brakes | 3.4% | 2,223 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 4,295 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 2,814 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 2,785 |
| 4 | Wipers | 1,831 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,691 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,665 |
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 | 27.1% | 17,955 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.4% | 13,499 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.1% | 9,995 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.8% | 5,844 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.7% | 3,767 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 2,042 |
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 | 12,014 | 13.2% |
| 30-60k | 35,907 | 18.7% |
| 60-90k | 15,605 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,463 | 26.5% |
| 120-150k | 241 | 26.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,602 | 14.1% |
| 2022 | 12,918 | 16.5% |
| 2023 | 13,263 | 19.0% |
| 2024 | 13,484 | 21.4% |
| 2025 | 13,986 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Adam
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 8.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (8.7% 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 (5.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.4% 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 Vauxhall Adams pass their MOT?
80.8% of the 66,253 2015 Vauxhall Adam MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Vauxhall Adam?
Suspension, recorded in 8.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.5%).
Does the 2015 Adam get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.2% in the 0-30k band to 26.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 66,253 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.