2015 Vauxhall Viva — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 29,443 MOT tests, the 2015 Vauxhall Viva recorded an 86.9% pass rate. Against city cars of a similar age (15.6% fail rate), the 2015 Viva comes out 2.5pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 8.0% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tyre pressure monitoring system, wipers and tread depth — tyre pressure monitoring system alone was recorded 1,397 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.5% versus 8.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.0% | 2,364 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.2% | 1,237 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 891 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.9% | 868 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.0% | 597 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 484 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 1,397 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,067 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 554 |
| 4 | Washers | 449 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 397 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 363 |
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 | 24.0% | 7,059 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.8% | 2,877 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 2,516 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.9% | 2,314 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.2% | 1,833 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 959 |
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 | 10,821 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 13,367 | 14.3% |
| 60-90k | 4,258 | 19.8% |
| 90-120k | 831 | 24.6% |
| 120-150k | 141 | 25.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,655 | 8.3% |
| 2022 | 5,759 | 10.1% |
| 2023 | 5,852 | 12.2% |
| 2024 | 5,980 | 15.6% |
| 2025 | 6,197 | 18.8% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Viva
On a 2015 Viva, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (8.0% 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 (4.2% 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 (3.0% 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 Vauxhall Vivas pass their MOT?
86.9% of the 29,443 2015 Vauxhall Viva MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Vauxhall Viva?
Tyres, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by visibility (4.2%).
Does the 2015 Viva get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 25.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 29,443 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.