2015 Vauxhall Meriva — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 49,329 MOT tests analysed for the 2015 Vauxhall Meriva, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 83.4% was in line with the average for MPVs of a similar age (83.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 24.3% in the 150k+ group versus 10.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.9% | 3,886 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.6% | 2,782 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 2,379 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.3% | 1,604 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 1,398 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 1,025 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 4,055 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,360 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,024 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 997 |
| 5 | Wipers | 796 |
| 6 | Washers | 793 |
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 | 25.7% | 12,688 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.5% | 7,645 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.6% | 4,225 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.0% | 2,968 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 2,330 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 2,247 |
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 | 9,952 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 24,412 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 11,587 | 21.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,782 | 24.7% |
| 120-150k | 479 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 107 | 24.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 45,148 | 16.4% |
| Diesel | 4,176 | 18.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,492 | 11.4% |
| 2022 | 9,784 | 14.8% |
| 2023 | 10,046 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 9,968 | 18.2% |
| 2025 | 10,039 | 20.7% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Meriva
Before buying a 2015 Vauxhall Meriva, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 7.9% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (7.9% 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 (5.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.8% 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 Vauxhall Merivas pass their MOT?
83.4% of the 49,329 2015 Vauxhall Meriva MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Vauxhall Meriva?
Suspension, recorded in 7.9% of tests, followed by tyres (5.6%).
Does the 2015 Meriva get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 24.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 49,329 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.