2016 Honda CR-V — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Honda CR-V passed 91.8% of its 77,416 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (13.7% fail rate), the 2016 CR-V comes out 5.5pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.5%) and lighting & signalling (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 1,706 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.2% in the 0-30k band and 17.3% in the 150k+ band, a 13.1-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.8pp more often than petrol ones (8.8% vs 7.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.5% | 2,694 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 2,293 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.7% | 2,122 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 1,922 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 649 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 582 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,706 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,492 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,284 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,279 |
| 5 | Washers | 623 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 538 |
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 | 21.1% | 16,342 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.0% | 10,807 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.5% | 5,833 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.9% | 2,977 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 2,830 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 2,356 |
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 | 9,312 | 4.2% |
| 30-60k | 36,868 | 7.0% |
| 60-90k | 22,672 | 10.0% |
| 90-120k | 6,588 | 12.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,490 | 14.6% |
| 150k+ | 434 | 17.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 50,692 | 8.8% |
| Petrol | 26,724 | 7.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,280 | 5.9% |
| 2022 | 15,429 | 7.2% |
| 2023 | 15,544 | 8.4% |
| 2024 | 15,574 | 9.5% |
| 2025 | 15,589 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 CR-V
On a 2016 CR-V, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.5% 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 (3.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.7% 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 Honda CR-Vs pass their MOT?
91.8% of the 77,416 2016 Honda CR-V MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Honda CR-V?
Tyres, recorded in 3.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.0%).
Does the 2016 CR-V get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.2% in the 0-30k band to 17.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 77,416 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.