2016 Honda Stepwagon — MOT failures & pass rate
617 MOT tests on the 2016 Honda Stepwagon are in this dataset, and 78.3% of them passed. That is 7.6 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 14.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.8% of all tests — 10.9 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and rear fog lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 43 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 29.3% versus 19.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 24.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 110 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.0% | 43 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.5% | 34 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.9% | 30 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 26 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 43 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 36 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 32 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 32 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 30 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 21 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 24.1% | 149 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.7% | 146 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.7% | 140 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.8% | 128 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.5% | 77 |
| 6 | Steering | 9.9% | 61 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 131 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 206 | 22.8% |
| 120-150k | 136 | 19.9% |
| 150k+ | 116 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 142 | 21.1% |
| 2022 | 135 | 20.0% |
| 2023 | 146 | 23.3% |
| 2024 | 95 | 21.1% |
| 2025 | 99 | 23.2% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Stepwagon
On a 2016 Stepwagon, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.0% 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.
- Brakes (5.5% 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.
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 Stepwagons pass their MOT?
78.3% of the 617 2016 Honda Stepwagon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Honda Stepwagon?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by suspension (7.0%).
Does the 2016 Stepwagon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 60-90k band to 29.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 617 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.