2016 Ford Ranger — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 61,984 MOT tests, the 2016 Ford Ranger recorded an 82.6% pass rate. Pick-up trucks of a similar age fail at 17.5%, so the 2016 Ranger sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.9%) and lighting & signalling (7.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 4,128 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.6% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.2% 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 | 7.9% | 4,923 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 4,772 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.1% | 3,133 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.2% | 2,605 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 1,294 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 1,211 |
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 | 4,128 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,529 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,400 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,334 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 1,276 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 1,135 |
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 | 16.4% | 10,146 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.6% | 9,054 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 4,118 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.6% | 4,103 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.1% | 3,758 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.9% | 3,684 |
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 | 3,267 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 18,573 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 21,840 | 18.3% |
| 90-120k | 11,925 | 19.8% |
| 120-150k | 4,471 | 21.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,902 | 21.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,227 | 14.2% |
| 2022 | 12,524 | 16.4% |
| 2023 | 12,507 | 18.1% |
| 2024 | 12,493 | 19.0% |
| 2025 | 12,233 | 19.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Ranger
On a 2016 Ranger, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (7.9% 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 (7.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.1% 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 Rangers pass their MOT?
82.6% of the 61,984 2016 Ford Ranger MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Ford Ranger?
Suspension, recorded in 7.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.7%).
Does the 2016 Ranger get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 21.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 61,984 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.