2015 Vauxhall Agila — MOT failures & pass rate
1,203 MOT tests on the 2015 Vauxhall Agila are in this dataset, and 87.9% of them passed. That is 3.4 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 15.6%. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (4.9%) and suspension (4.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, ball joint and rbt (sp) — wipers alone was recorded 54 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.7% in the 0-30k band and 27.8% in the 90-120k band, a 21.1-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.9% | 59 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.8% | 58 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.7% | 57 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 53 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.7% | 33 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 54 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 27 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 25 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 16 |
| 6 | Lever | 15 |
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 | 21.3% | 256 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.9% | 203 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.4% | 113 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.9% | 59 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 53 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 49 |
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 | 451 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 537 | 12.7% |
| 60-90k | 173 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 36 | 27.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 233 | 7.7% |
| 2022 | 242 | 10.7% |
| 2023 | 237 | 11.0% |
| 2024 | 246 | 15.4% |
| 2025 | 245 | 15.5% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Agila
On a 2015 Agila, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (4.9% 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.
- Suspension (4.8% 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.
- Visibility (4.7% 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 Vauxhall Agilas pass their MOT?
87.9% of the 1,203 2015 Vauxhall Agila MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Vauxhall Agila?
Brakes, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by suspension (4.8%).
Does the 2015 Agila get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 27.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,203 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.