2015 Vauxhall Cascada — MOT failures & pass rate
3,366 MOT tests on the 2015 Vauxhall Cascada are in this dataset, and 83.7% of them passed. That is 4.4 percentage points worse than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 11.9%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 8.1% of all tests — 3.2 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, brake pads and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 302 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.2% once past 120-150k — 2.4× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.2pp more often than petrol ones (17.3% vs 15.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.1% | 273 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.9% | 166 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.0% | 134 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 98 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 88 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 53 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 302 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 116 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 64 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 62 |
| 5 | Washers | 58 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 42 |
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 | 25.3% | 851 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.8% | 631 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.7% | 191 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 173 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 152 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 68 |
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 | 600 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,695 | 16.4% |
| 60-90k | 801 | 19.0% |
| 90-120k | 199 | 23.1% |
| 120-150k | 45 | 22.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,876 | 17.3% |
| Petrol | 1,490 | 15.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 663 | 14.9% |
| 2022 | 684 | 15.8% |
| 2023 | 692 | 17.2% |
| 2024 | 662 | 16.6% |
| 2025 | 665 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Cascada
On a 2015 Cascada, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.1% 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.
- Tyres (4.9% 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.
- Brakes (4.0% 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.
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 Cascadas pass their MOT?
83.7% of the 3,366 2015 Vauxhall Cascada MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Vauxhall Cascada?
Suspension, recorded in 8.1% of tests, followed by tyres (4.9%).
Does the 2015 Cascada get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 22.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,366 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.