2015 Volkswagen Amarok — MOT failures & pass rate
16,681 MOT tests on the 2015 Volkswagen Amarok are in this dataset, and 83.1% of them passed. Against pick-up trucks of a similar age (19.3% fail rate), the 2015 Amarok comes out 2.4pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (7.8%) and lighting & signalling (7.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and shock absorbers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 494 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.7% in the 0-30k band and 22.1% in the 150k+ band, a 14.4-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 7.8% | 1,309 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 1,286 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.2% | 1,027 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 464 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.6% | 441 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.6% | 263 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 494 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 480 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 463 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 419 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 416 |
| 6 | Washers | 334 |
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 | 17.8% | 2,964 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.6% | 2,764 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.2% | 2,035 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.1% | 1,020 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.0% | 830 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 762 |
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 | 194 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 2,599 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 5,505 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 4,486 | 18.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,342 | 20.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,555 | 22.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,349 | 14.0% |
| 2022 | 3,426 | 15.6% |
| 2023 | 3,376 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 3,337 | 18.0% |
| 2025 | 3,193 | 19.5% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Amarok
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 7.8% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (7.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.2% 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.
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 Volkswagen Amaroks pass their MOT?
83.1% of the 16,681 2015 Volkswagen Amarok MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Volkswagen Amarok?
Brakes, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.7%).
Does the 2015 Amarok get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 22.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,681 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.