2016 Alfa Romeo Mito — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,971 MOT tests, the 2016 Alfa Romeo Mito recorded an 81.6% pass rate. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 15.6%. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.5%) and brakes (5.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, coil spring and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 334 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.7% versus 11.0%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.9pp more often than petrol ones (20.3% vs 18.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.5% | 491 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.1% | 454 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 452 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.0% | 449 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 428 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 263 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 334 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 305 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 280 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 261 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 258 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 230 |
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 | 27.0% | 2,426 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.0% | 2,150 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.7% | 1,052 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.8% | 522 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.9% | 443 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 440 |
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 | 1,956 | 11.0% |
| 30-60k | 4,886 | 18.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,848 | 24.0% |
| 90-120k | 249 | 27.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 8,453 | 18.3% |
| Diesel | 518 | 20.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,727 | 13.4% |
| 2022 | 1,760 | 15.7% |
| 2023 | 1,847 | 19.4% |
| 2024 | 1,821 | 20.6% |
| 2025 | 1,816 | 22.6% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Mito
On a 2016 Mito, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.5% 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.
- Brakes (5.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (5.0% 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 2016 Alfa Romeo Mitos pass their MOT?
81.6% of the 8,971 2016 Alfa Romeo Mito MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Alfa Romeo Mito?
Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by brakes (5.1%).
Does the 2016 Mito get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.0% in the 0-30k band to 27.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,971 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.