2015 Volkswagen Tiguan — MOT failures & pass rate
116,019 MOT tests on the 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan are in this dataset, and 85.9% of them passed. That is 1.7 percentage points better than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 15.8%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.5%) and tyres (4.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, tread depth and coil spring — pins and bushes alone was recorded 6,234 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.0% versus 6.9%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.6pp more often than petrol ones (14.2% vs 11.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 26.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.5% | 8,688 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.7% | 5,409 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 3,220 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.3% | 2,689 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 2,144 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 1,370 |
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 | 6,234 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 3,630 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 3,004 |
| 4 | Wipers | 1,713 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,583 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 1,555 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 26.8% | 31,092 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.1% | 29,117 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.5% | 23,838 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.5% | 8,651 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 3,494 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 2,210 |
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 | 4,672 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 42,078 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 46,620 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 17,599 | 19.0% |
| 120-150k | 3,978 | 20.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,062 | 22.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 114,294 | 14.2% |
| Petrol | 1,725 | 11.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,402 | 10.3% |
| 2022 | 22,881 | 12.0% |
| 2023 | 23,239 | 14.0% |
| 2024 | 23,486 | 15.8% |
| 2025 | 24,011 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Tiguan
On a 2015 Tiguan, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (7.5% 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.
- Tyres (4.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.8% 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 Tiguans pass their MOT?
85.9% of the 116,019 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Suspension, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by tyres (4.7%).
Does the 2015 Tiguan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 22.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 116,019 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.