2015 Vauxhall Viva MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 72.3% of Vauxhall Vivas first used in 2015 passed their MOT first time, against 71.9% for all cars first used in 2015. Across 15,417 Viva first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were tyres, visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) and suspension.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Vauxhall Vivas first used in 2015 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.
Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026
How the 2015 Vauxhall Viva MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Vivas first used in 2015 against all cars first used in 2015 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Viva figure was in line with the all-cars figure.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2015 Viva | All cars first used 2015 | Viva first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86.1% | 79.7% | 5,195 |
| 2022 | 84.4% | 77.8% | 5,202 |
| 2023 | 81.6% | 75.5% | 5,172 |
| 2024 | 77.2% | 73.5% | 5,141 |
| 2025 | 72.3% | 71.9% | 5,104 |
Common 2015 Vauxhall Viva MOT failures
Share of the 3,538 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common failure items
| DVSA failure item | Share of failed first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative | 33.9% | 1,200 |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | 12.6% | 446 |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | 8.0% | 282 |
| Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm | 7.4% | 263 |
| Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn | 6.6% | 234 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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Typical repair costs for common MOT failures
Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Viva in particular, and not a quote.
| Failure item | Typical job | Typical UK price | Usual range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn | Ball joint replacement | £90 | £60–£150 |
From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.
What to check on a 2015 Vauxhall Viva before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
- Wipers and windscreen. Worth checking that the wipers clear the screen cleanly, that the washers work, and that there are no chips or cracks in the driver’s view.
- Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
Common 2015 Vauxhall Viva MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2015 Vivas, as a share of all 15,417 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | 13.8% | 2,128 |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 12.0% | 1,843 |
| Exhaust system: mounting defective | 6.9% | 1,070 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 5.1% | 783 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 4.6% | 704 |
Questions about the 2015 Vauxhall Viva MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2015 Vauxhall Viva?
In 2025, 72.3% of Vivas first used in 2015 passed their MOT first time, against 71.9% for all cars first used in 2015. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2015 Viva most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres (in 50.5% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (20.9%) and suspension (20.0%). The single most common item was “Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative” (33.9%).
How often does a 2015 Vauxhall Viva fail its MOT?
In 2025, 27.7% of first tests on Vivas first used in 2015 did not pass first time: 22.8% failed, and a further 4.9% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 3,538 of 15,417 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2015 Vauxhall Viva MOT advisories?
“Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (on 13.8% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (12.0%), “Exhaust system: mounting defective” (6.9%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (5.1%) and “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (4.6%).
Is a 2015 Vauxhall Viva reliable?
An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 86.1% in 2021 to 72.3% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2015
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2015 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2015 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2015 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2015 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2015 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2015 Viva?
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