2015 Volkswagen Passat — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 93,887 MOT tests, the 2015 Volkswagen Passat recorded an 85.3% pass rate. Against large family cars of a similar age (17.0% fail rate), the 2015 Passat comes out 2.3pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.8%) and suspension (5.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, headlamp aim and tread depth — shock absorbers alone was recorded 3,739 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.4% in the 0-30k band and 15.3% in the 150k+ band, a 7.9-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.8% | 5,444 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.4% | 5,046 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 4,314 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.0% | 2,839 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 2,327 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.7% | 1,593 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 3,739 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,508 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 3,415 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 2,041 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,999 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 1,517 |
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 | 25.8% | 24,245 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.3% | 19,082 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.5% | 11,751 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.8% | 7,339 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 4,166 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 1,741 |
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 | 1,250 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 13,170 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 26,735 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 24,538 | 16.6% |
| 120-150k | 14,999 | 15.8% |
| 150k+ | 13,185 | 15.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 93,791 | 14.7% |
| Petrol | 96 | 10.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,278 | 13.1% |
| 2022 | 19,272 | 14.2% |
| 2023 | 19,008 | 14.8% |
| 2024 | 18,424 | 15.3% |
| 2025 | 17,905 | 16.0% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Passat
On a 2015 Passat, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.8% 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.
- Suspension (5.4% 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 (4.6% 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 Volkswagen Passats pass their MOT?
85.3% of the 93,887 2015 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Volkswagen Passat?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by suspension (5.4%).
Does the 2015 Passat get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 15.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 93,887 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.