2016 Ford Ka — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 48,756 MOT tests, the 2016 Ford Ka recorded an 84.3% pass rate. Against city cars of a similar age (13.7% fail rate), the 2016 Ka comes out 2.0pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.6%) and lighting & signalling (5.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, shock absorbers and wipers — coil spring alone was recorded 2,090 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.3% in the 0-30k band and 20.8% in the 120-150k band, a 10.5-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.6% | 3,687 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 2,659 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.4% | 2,156 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 1,834 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.7% | 1,791 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 676 |
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 | 2,090 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 2,049 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,347 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,076 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,048 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 993 |
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 | 23.9% | 11,661 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.3% | 9,916 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.8% | 7,215 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 2,887 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 2,235 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 3.1% | 1,500 |
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 | 19,715 | 10.3% |
| 30-60k | 22,736 | 18.2% |
| 60-90k | 5,531 | 23.5% |
| 90-120k | 655 | 25.7% |
| 120-150k | 77 | 20.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,443 | 12.2% |
| 2022 | 9,641 | 14.0% |
| 2023 | 9,785 | 15.5% |
| 2024 | 9,856 | 17.7% |
| 2025 | 10,031 | 19.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Ka
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.4% 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.
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 Kas pass their MOT?
84.3% of the 48,756 2016 Ford Ka MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Ford Ka?
Suspension, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.5%).
Does the 2016 Ka get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 0-30k band to 20.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 48,756 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.