2016 Great Wall Steed — MOT failures & pass rate
1,011 MOT tests on the 2016 Great Wall Steed are in this dataset, and 76.0% of them passed. Pick-up trucks of a similar age fail 17.4% of the time, so this is 6.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.8% of tests against 10.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, ball joint and headlamp aim — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 94 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.2% in the 0-30k band and 23.3% in the 90-120k band, a 8.2-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 139 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.5% | 106 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.5% | 96 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 72 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.4% | 65 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 56 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 94 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 71 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 58 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 48 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 47 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 42 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 35.8% | 362 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.4% | 287 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.4% | 176 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.9% | 110 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.8% | 59 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.7% | 58 |
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 | 99 | 15.2% |
| 30-60k | 468 | 23.3% |
| 60-90k | 329 | 27.1% |
| 90-120k | 90 | 23.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 223 | 22.9% |
| 2022 | 203 | 20.2% |
| 2023 | 213 | 24.9% |
| 2024 | 197 | 26.4% |
| 2025 | 175 | 26.3% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Steed
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.5% 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.
- Suspension (9.5% 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.
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 Great Wall Steeds pass their MOT?
76.0% of the 1,011 2016 Great Wall Steed MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Great Wall Steed?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.8% of tests, followed by brakes (10.5%).
Does the 2016 Steed get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.2% in the 0-30k band to 23.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,011 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.