2016 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Ford Fiesta passed 81.4% of its 704,083 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (15.5% fail rate), the 2016 Fiesta comes out 3.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.7%) and suspension (9.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, stop lamp and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 48,256 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.3% in the 0-30k band and 25.1% in the 150k+ band, a 13.8-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.1% fail against 22.5% for diesel, a 4.4-point gap across 704,075 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 75,109 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.4% | 66,354 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.6% | 39,560 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.3% | 15,962 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.2% | 15,752 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.2% | 15,677 |
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 | 48,256 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 46,781 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 23,394 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 18,998 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 15,815 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 13,856 |
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 | 25.9% | 182,681 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.9% | 111,636 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.2% | 92,768 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.4% | 52,465 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 18,843 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 18,010 |
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 | 156,883 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 347,882 | 18.8% |
| 60-90k | 152,104 | 23.4% |
| 90-120k | 35,486 | 25.8% |
| 120-150k | 7,947 | 25.0% |
| 150k+ | 3,257 | 25.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 628,145 | 18.1% |
| Diesel | 75,930 | 22.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 141,818 | 16.7% |
| 2022 | 142,506 | 18.2% |
| 2023 | 141,389 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 139,498 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 138,872 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Fiesta
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.4% 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.
- Tyres (5.6% 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 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
81.4% of the 704,083 2016 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Ford Fiesta?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.7% of tests, followed by suspension (9.4%).
Does the 2016 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 25.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 704,083 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.