2015 Vauxhall Combo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 35,788 MOT tests, the 2015 Vauxhall Combo recorded a 75.0% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 21.2% of the time, so this is 3.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (14.1%) and lighting & signalling (13.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 3,272 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.9% versus 18.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.1% | 5,049 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 4,893 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.4% | 2,638 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.4% | 1,948 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 1,528 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 1,460 |
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 | 3,272 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,596 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,500 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,350 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,259 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,149 |
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 | 29.6% | 10,603 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.1% | 6,838 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.7% | 5,609 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.4% | 3,382 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.1% | 3,249 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 2,851 |
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 | 992 | 18.3% |
| 30-60k | 4,830 | 22.5% |
| 60-90k | 11,105 | 24.4% |
| 90-120k | 10,710 | 26.2% |
| 120-150k | 5,554 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 2,585 | 26.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 35,708 | 25.0% |
| Petrol | 80 | 13.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,700 | 23.0% |
| 2022 | 7,510 | 24.2% |
| 2023 | 7,408 | 25.6% |
| 2024 | 6,924 | 26.3% |
| 2025 | 6,246 | 26.3% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Combo
On a 2015 Combo, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (14.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.4% 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 Combos pass their MOT?
75.0% of the 35,788 2015 Vauxhall Combo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Vauxhall Combo?
Suspension, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.7%).
Does the 2015 Combo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.3% in the 0-30k band to 26.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 35,788 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.