2016 Fiat Qubo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 994 MOT tests, the 2016 Fiat Qubo recorded an 81.8% pass rate. Against MPVs of a similar age (15.3% fail rate), the 2016 Qubo comes out 2.9pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 10.0% of tests against 5.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, shock absorbers and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 72 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.2% versus 14.1%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.0% | 99 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.7% | 57 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 31 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 31 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.1% | 21 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 72 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 46 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 39 |
| 4 | Wipers | 27 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 15 |
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 | 25.3% | 251 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.4% | 123 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.8% | 87 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 51 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 48 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 23 |
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 | 455 | 14.1% |
| 30-60k | 354 | 19.8% |
| 60-90k | 158 | 27.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 752 | 19.4% |
| Petrol | 242 | 14.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 185 | 15.1% |
| 2022 | 207 | 16.9% |
| 2023 | 203 | 19.2% |
| 2024 | 203 | 21.7% |
| 2025 | 196 | 17.9% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Qubo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 10.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (10.0% 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.
- Tyres (5.7% 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 (3.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 Fiat Qubos pass their MOT?
81.8% of the 994 2016 Fiat Qubo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Fiat Qubo?
Suspension, recorded in 10.0% of tests, followed by tyres (5.7%).
Does the 2016 Qubo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.1% in the 0-30k band to 27.2% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 994 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.