2016 Dacia Duster — MOT failures & pass rate
41,636 MOT tests on the 2016 Dacia Duster are in this dataset, and 83.8% of them passed. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 14.1% of the time, so this is 2.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.8% of tests against 4.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,574 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.4% versus 7.5%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 14.4% fail against 16.6% for diesel, a 2.2-point gap across 41,636 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 4,076 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.5% | 1,880 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 1,840 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.3% | 1,804 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.3% | 1,784 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 1,030 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 2,574 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,399 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,209 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,171 |
| 5 | Washers | 1,061 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 951 |
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 | 23.9% | 9,963 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.2% | 7,993 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.9% | 3,273 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.2% | 2,177 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 1,849 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 1,506 |
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 | 5,748 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 18,555 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 12,292 | 20.6% |
| 90-120k | 3,868 | 24.9% |
| 120-150k | 919 | 26.6% |
| 150k+ | 246 | 26.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 35,144 | 16.6% |
| Petrol | 6,492 | 14.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,986 | 11.2% |
| 2022 | 8,166 | 13.6% |
| 2023 | 8,348 | 16.2% |
| 2024 | 8,576 | 19.2% |
| 2025 | 8,560 | 20.5% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Duster
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (4.5% 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.
- Suspension (4.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 Dacia Dusters pass their MOT?
83.8% of the 41,636 2016 Dacia Duster MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Dacia Duster?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.8% of tests, followed by visibility (4.5%).
Does the 2016 Duster get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 26.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 41,636 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.