2016 Infiniti Q50 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,724 MOT tests, the 2016 Infiniti Q50 recorded an 84.6% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail 12.7% of the time, so this is 2.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (6.2%) and tyres (6.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, tread depth and linkage ball joints — brake pads alone was recorded 166 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.0% in the 0-30k band and 18.9% in the 150k+ band, a 8.9-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 6.2% | 230 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.1% | 228 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.0% | 150 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 116 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 75 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 61 |
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 | 166 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 148 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joints | 84 |
| 4 | Wipers | 77 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 65 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 54 |
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 | 24.1% | 898 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.9% | 889 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.4% | 759 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.3% | 234 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 119 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 95 |
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 | 249 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,444 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,339 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 482 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 136 | 20.6% |
| 150k+ | 74 | 18.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,284 | 16.1% |
| Petrol | 267 | 9.4% |
| Hybrid | 173 | 11.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 777 | 15.6% |
| 2022 | 769 | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 748 | 14.3% |
| 2024 | 725 | 15.4% |
| 2025 | 705 | 16.7% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Q50
On a 2016 Q50, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (6.2% 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.
- Tyres (6.1% 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.
- Suspension (4.0% 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.
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 Infiniti Q50s pass their MOT?
84.6% of the 3,724 2016 Infiniti Q50 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Infiniti Q50?
Brakes, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by tyres (6.1%).
Does the 2016 Q50 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 18.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,724 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.