2016 Fiat Tribute — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 351 MOT tests, the 2016 Fiat Tribute recorded a 93.2% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 14.5% of the time, so this is 7.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.1%) and visibility (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 10 times.
The trend is worsening — 6.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 11 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.6% | 9 |
| 3 | Tyres | 1.7% | 6 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.1% | 4 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 3 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 2 |
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 | 10 |
| 2 | Wipers | 8 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 3 |
| 4 | Washers | 2 |
| 5 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 2 |
| 6 | Outline marker lamp | 1 |
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 | 7.4% | 26 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.6% | 16 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.7% | 13 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.3% | 8 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 4 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 3 |
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 | 244 | 5.7% |
| 30-60k | 98 | 10.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 72 | 6.9% |
| 2022 | 73 | 4.1% |
| 2023 | 69 | 5.8% |
| 2024 | 68 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 69 | 8.7% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Tribute
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 3.1% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Visibility (2.6% 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.
- Tyres (1.7% 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.
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 Tributes pass their MOT?
93.2% of the 351 2016 Fiat Tribute MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Fiat Tribute?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.1% of tests, followed by visibility (2.6%).
Does the 2016 Tribute get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.7% in the 0-30k band to 10.2% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 351 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.