2016 Bentley Continental — MOT failures & pass rate
1,904 MOT tests on the 2016 Bentley Continental are in this dataset, and 95.3% of them passed. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (10.8% fail rate), the 2016 Continental comes out 6.1pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and other defects.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.6%) and lighting & signalling (1.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are registration plates, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — registration plates alone was recorded 24 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2016 Continental fails 3.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 0.0% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.7 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 10.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.6% | 50 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 24 |
| 3 | Other defects | 0.8% | 16 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.4% | 8 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 8 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.4% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plates | 24 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 13 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 8 |
| 5 | Washers | 7 |
| 6 | Headlamp cleaning device | 6 |
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 | 10.2% | 194 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.7% | 71 |
| 3 | Other defects | 1.8% | 35 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.3% | 25 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.8% | 15 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 8 |
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 | 1,171 | 3.7% |
| 30-60k | 681 | 6.5% |
| 60-90k | 39 | 0.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 407 | 5.2% |
| 2022 | 374 | 3.7% |
| 2023 | 384 | 4.7% |
| 2024 | 358 | 4.2% |
| 2025 | 381 | 5.5% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Continental
On a 2016 Continental, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (2.6% 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 (1.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Other defects (0.8% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
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 Bentley Continentals pass their MOT?
95.3% of the 1,904 2016 Bentley Continental MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Bentley Continental?
Tyres, recorded in 2.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.3%).
Does the 2016 Continental get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.7% in the 0-30k band to 0.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,904 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.