2016 Fiat Bessacarr — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 747 MOT tests, the 2016 Fiat Bessacarr recorded a 95.2% pass rate. That is 9.7 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 14.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and seat belts & restraints.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.6%) and visibility (2.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and outline marker lamp — wipers alone was recorded 21 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 8.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 7.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 27 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.1% | 16 |
| 3 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.1% | 8 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 8 |
| 5 | Tyres | 0.7% | 5 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 21 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 3 | Outline marker lamp | 11 |
| 4 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 8 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 6 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 5 |
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 | 8.0% | 60 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 26 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.6% | 12 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.3% | 10 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.2% | 9 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.5% | 4 |
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 | 679 | 4.4% |
| 30-60k | 67 | 9.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 153 | 5.9% |
| 2022 | 148 | 4.0% |
| 2023 | 151 | 2.6% |
| 2024 | 140 | 3.6% |
| 2025 | 155 | 7.7% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Bessacarr
On a 2016 Bessacarr, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (3.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.1% 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.
- Seat belts & restraints (1.1% of tests): Belt damage or faulty pretensioners — usually straightforward but safety-critical. Typical repair: £50–£300.
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 Fiat Bessacarrs pass their MOT?
95.2% of the 747 2016 Fiat Bessacarr MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Fiat Bessacarr?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by visibility (2.1%).
Does the 2016 Bessacarr get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.4% in the 0-30k band to 9.0% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 747 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.