2016 Hyundai Ioniq — MOT failures & pass rate
2,556 MOT tests on the 2016 Hyundai Ioniq are in this dataset, and 90.5% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 13.7% of the time, so this is 4.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.6%) and lighting & signalling (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and service brake performance — tread depth alone was recorded 68 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2016 Ioniq fails 6.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.2% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.4 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.6% | 118 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 80 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.0% | 76 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 75 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 35 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 18 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 68 |
| 2 | Wipers | 58 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 40 |
| 4 | Washers | 34 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 34 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 28 |
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 | 21.4% | 546 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.0% | 331 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.4% | 113 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 85 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.6% | 67 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 37 |
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 | 326 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 892 | 8.7% |
| 60-90k | 601 | 11.7% |
| 90-120k | 280 | 7.9% |
| 120-150k | 207 | 13.5% |
| 150k+ | 250 | 9.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 2,152 | 9.7% |
| Electric | 353 | 8.5% |
| Petrol | 51 | 9.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 492 | 6.3% |
| 2022 | 500 | 7.2% |
| 2023 | 526 | 11.8% |
| 2024 | 529 | 12.1% |
| 2025 | 509 | 9.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Ioniq
On a 2016 Ioniq, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.6% 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 (3.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 Hyundai Ioniqs pass their MOT?
90.5% of the 2,556 2016 Hyundai Ioniq MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Hyundai Ioniq?
Tyres, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.1%).
Does the 2016 Ioniq get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 0-30k band to 9.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,556 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.