2016 Ford Galaxy — MOT failures & pass rate
28,263 MOT tests on the 2016 Ford Galaxy are in this dataset, and 87.2% of them passed. Against MPVs of a similar age (15.2% fail rate), the 2016 Galaxy comes out 2.4pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.4%) and lighting & signalling (6.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 1,046 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 12.6% versus 8.1%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 10.1% fail against 12.8% for diesel, a 2.7-point gap across 28,263 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.4% | 1,816 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 1,806 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.0% | 1,134 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 845 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.2% | 329 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.9% | 240 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 1,046 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 952 |
| 3 | Wipers | 719 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 600 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 526 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 465 |
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 | 24.8% | 6,997 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.0% | 5,373 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.8% | 2,500 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 1,920 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 1,576 |
| 6 | Suspension | 5.0% | 1,405 |
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 | 1,812 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 7,687 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 7,708 | 13.9% |
| 90-120k | 4,765 | 14.8% |
| 120-150k | 2,732 | 14.0% |
| 150k+ | 3,553 | 12.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 27,620 | 12.8% |
| Petrol | 643 | 10.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,746 | 11.2% |
| 2022 | 5,755 | 11.3% |
| 2023 | 5,715 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 5,614 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 5,433 | 14.9% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Galaxy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.4% 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 (6.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.0% 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.
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 Galaxys pass their MOT?
87.2% of the 28,263 2016 Ford Galaxy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Ford Galaxy?
Tyres, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.4%).
Does the 2016 Galaxy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 12.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,263 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.