2015 Volkswagen Scirocco — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 32,389 MOT tests, the 2015 Volkswagen Scirocco recorded an 83.9% pass rate. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (11.9% fail rate), the 2015 Scirocco comes out 4.2pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.6% of tests against 4.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 1,228 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.9% versus 9.2%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 14.6% fail against 17.1% for diesel, a 2.5-point gap across 32,389 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.7% 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 | 7.6% | 2,460 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.4% | 1,422 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 1,384 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.1% | 1,314 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 893 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 725 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 1,228 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 806 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 720 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 621 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 562 |
| 6 | Wipers | 510 |
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 | 26.1% | 8,440 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.8% | 6,754 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.1% | 6,514 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.4% | 1,744 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 1,157 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 2.2% | 712 |
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 | 1,556 | 9.2% |
| 30-60k | 12,426 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 12,413 | 17.2% |
| 90-120k | 4,713 | 20.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,040 | 21.1% |
| 150k+ | 239 | 25.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 20,159 | 17.1% |
| Petrol | 12,230 | 14.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,423 | 13.7% |
| 2022 | 6,429 | 14.5% |
| 2023 | 6,520 | 16.6% |
| 2024 | 6,526 | 16.9% |
| 2025 | 6,491 | 18.8% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Scirocco
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.6% 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 (4.4% 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 (4.3% 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 Sciroccos pass their MOT?
83.9% of the 32,389 2015 Volkswagen Scirocco MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Volkswagen Scirocco?
Tyres, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by suspension (4.4%).
Does the 2015 Scirocco get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.2% in the 0-30k band to 25.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 32,389 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.