2016 Honda HR-V — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 37,732 MOT tests, the 2016 Honda HR-V recorded a 90.6% pass rate. Against small SUVs of a similar age (14.1% fail rate), the 2016 HR-V comes out 4.7pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.9%) and visibility (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 977 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.9% in the 0-30k band and 19.8% in the 150k+ band, a 14.9-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 8.1% fail against 11.0% for diesel, a 2.9-point gap across 37,732 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.9% | 1,456 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.2% | 1,211 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.0% | 1,128 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.5% | 937 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 694 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 150 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 977 |
| 2 | Wipers | 965 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 657 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 578 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 556 |
| 6 | Washers | 488 |
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 | 22.2% | 8,383 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.4% | 5,454 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.3% | 4,635 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.5% | 2,817 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 1,104 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 588 |
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 | 7,815 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 18,548 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 8,521 | 12.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,284 | 17.3% |
| 120-150k | 448 | 19.9% |
| 150k+ | 106 | 19.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 20,774 | 8.1% |
| Diesel | 16,958 | 11.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,357 | 6.3% |
| 2022 | 7,428 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | 7,562 | 8.9% |
| 2024 | 7,597 | 10.6% |
| 2025 | 7,788 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 HR-V
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.9% 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.
- Visibility (3.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (3.0% 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 Honda HR-Vs pass their MOT?
90.6% of the 37,732 2016 Honda HR-V MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Honda HR-V?
Tyres, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by visibility (3.2%).
Does the 2016 HR-V get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 19.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 37,732 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.