Vauxhall Vivaro 2015: reliability & common MOT faults
Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2015 Vauxhall Vivaro include Pins and bushes (front) (~10.0× peers) and Track rod end (~7.5× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (8,762 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.
Common faults
These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).
Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.
Based on 8,762 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.
Pins and bushes (front)
This failure pattern appears about 10.0× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 189 failed first-attempt tests; 2.2% of failed tests for this model year.
Front · 189 failures · ×10.0 vs similar cars · 2.2% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
Track rod end
This failure pattern appears about 7.5× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 1,000 failed first-attempt tests; 11.4% of failed tests for this model year.
Any · 1,000 failures · ×7.5 vs similar cars · 11.4% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
Linkage ball joints (front)
This failure pattern appears about 6.6× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 1,229 failed first-attempt tests; 14.0% of failed tests for this model year.
Front · 1,229 failures · ×6.6 vs similar cars · 14.0% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
| # | Fault pattern | Location | Failures | vs similar cars | Share of fails | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes
|
Front | 189 | ×10.0 | 2.2% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 2 |
Track rod end
Steering > Steering linkage components > Track rod end
|
Any | 1,000 | ×7.5 | 11.4% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 3 |
Linkage ball joints (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage ball joints
|
Front | 1,229 | ×6.6 | 14.0% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 4 |
Track rod end (front)
Steering > Steering linkage components > Track rod end
|
Front | 2,397 | ×6.0 | 27.4% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 5 |
Ball joint (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Ball joint
|
Front | 305 | ×5.5 | 3.5% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 6 |
Shock absorbers (front)
Suspension > Shock absorbers
|
Front | 925 | ×5.2 | 10.6% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 7 |
Parking brake performance
Brakes > Brake performance > Parking brake performance > Rbt > Parking brake performance
|
Any | 191 | ×2.7 | 2.2% | Possible elevated fault |
| 8 |
Coil spring (rear)
Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring
|
Rear | 1,184 | ×2.5 | 13.5% | Possible elevated fault |
| 9 |
Parking brake performance (rear)
Brakes > Brake performance > Parking brake performance > Rbt > Parking brake performance
|
Rear | 202 | ×2.4 | 2.3% | Possible elevated fault |
Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).
Advisories
Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.
| # | Advisory pattern | Location | Notes | vs similar cars | Share | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Sub-frames > Pins and bushes
|
Front | 83 | ×19.9 | 0.9% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 2 |
Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes
|
Front | 292 | ×12.6 | 3.3% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 3 |
Integral vehicle structure condition (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Integral vehicle structure > Integral vehicle structure condition
|
Front | 46 | ×11.7 | 0.5% | Elevated vs peers |
| 4 |
Component mounting prescribed areas (front)
Suspension > Component mounting prescribed areas
|
Front | 30 | ×11.6 | 0.3% | Elevated vs peers |
| 5 |
Chassis condition (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition
|
Front | 37 | ×10.7 | 0.4% | Elevated vs peers |
| 6 |
Pins and bushes
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes
|
Any | 22 | ×10.2 | 0.3% | Elevated vs peers |
| 7 |
Seat belts — Condition
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems > Seat belts > Condition
|
Any | 61 | ×7.6 | 0.7% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 8 |
Stop lamp
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Stop lamp
|
Any | 278 | ×5.9 | 3.2% | Elevated vs peers |
FAQs
About this data
Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.
PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.
Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).
Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.
Limitations.
- MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
- Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
- Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
- Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.
Display rules config: 1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.