2016 BMW i3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 BMW i3 passed 89.5% of its 11,938 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.2 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 13.7%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.1%) and lighting & signalling (2.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 322 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.5% in the 0-30k band and 20.0% in the 150k+ band, a 12.5-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — electric fails 10.0% of the time against 10.6% for hybrid.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.1% | 607 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 333 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.8% | 328 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.1% | 137 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.1% | 128 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 86 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 322 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 229 |
| 3 | Washers | 198 |
| 4 | Wipers | 164 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 94 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 77 |
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 | 26.9% | 3,215 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.5% | 1,495 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.7% | 556 |
| 4 | Road wheels | 3.5% | 412 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 401 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.3% | 279 |
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 | 2,871 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 5,696 | 9.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,461 | 13.7% |
| 90-120k | 686 | 15.6% |
| 120-150k | 157 | 15.9% |
| 150k+ | 65 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 9,344 | 10.6% |
| Electric | 2,594 | 10.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,339 | 8.0% |
| 2022 | 2,399 | 10.1% |
| 2023 | 2,349 | 9.4% |
| 2024 | 2,412 | 12.0% |
| 2025 | 2,439 | 12.9% |
What to check before buying a 2016 i3
On a 2016 i3, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.1% 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 (2.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 BMW i3s pass their MOT?
89.5% of the 11,938 2016 BMW i3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 BMW i3?
Tyres, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.8%).
Does the 2016 i3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 20.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,938 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.