2016 DFSK Loadhopper — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 DFSK Loadhopper passed 70.8% of its 414 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 14.4% of the time, so this is 14.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (15.5%) and lighting & signalling (13.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are flexible brake hoses, headlamp aim and washers — flexible brake hoses alone was recorded 43 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2016 Loadhopper fails 28.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 31.3% at 60-90k, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.3% in 2021 to 28.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.5% | 64 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 56 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.7% | 36 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.5% | 31 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.2% | 30 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.8% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flexible brake hoses | 43 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 30 |
| 3 | Washers | 23 |
| 4 | Shackle pins and bushes | 21 |
| 5 | Wipers | 19 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 18 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 35.8% | 148 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.5% | 93 |
| 3 | Tyres | 13.8% | 57 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.1% | 50 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 44 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 25 |
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 | 222 | 28.4% |
| 30-60k | 125 | 28.0% |
| 60-90k | 48 | 31.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89 | 30.3% |
| 2022 | 81 | 24.7% |
| 2023 | 94 | 34.0% |
| 2024 | 77 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 73 | 28.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Loadhopper
On a 2016 Loadhopper, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (15.5% 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 (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.7% 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 DFSK Loadhoppers pass their MOT?
70.8% of the 414 2016 DFSK Loadhopper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 DFSK Loadhopper?
Brakes, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.5%).
Does the 2016 Loadhopper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.4% in the 0-30k band to 31.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 414 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.