2016 Jaguar XE — MOT failures & pass rate
70,365 MOT tests on the 2016 Jaguar XE are in this dataset, and 86.6% of them passed. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (12.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.9%) and lighting & signalling (4.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, stop lamp and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 2,215 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.6% versus 8.5%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 11.0% fail against 13.9% for diesel, a 2.9-point gap across 70,360 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 4,142 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 3,339 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.7% | 2,586 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 1,974 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.7% | 1,226 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 980 |
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 | 2,215 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 1,947 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,842 |
| 4 | Wipers | 1,606 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,201 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 842 |
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 | 24.3% | 17,080 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.4% | 15,748 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.3% | 3,737 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.9% | 3,427 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 2,209 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.3% | 925 |
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 | 8,261 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 28,532 | 12.3% |
| 60-90k | 21,357 | 15.1% |
| 90-120k | 9,187 | 16.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,523 | 16.4% |
| 150k+ | 499 | 20.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 58,460 | 13.9% |
| Petrol | 11,900 | 11.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,484 | 12.0% |
| 2022 | 14,409 | 12.8% |
| 2023 | 14,232 | 13.8% |
| 2024 | 13,925 | 14.4% |
| 2025 | 13,315 | 14.1% |
What to check before buying a 2016 XE
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.7% 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 Jaguar XEs pass their MOT?
86.6% of the 70,365 2016 Jaguar XE MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Jaguar XE?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.8%).
Does the 2016 XE get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 20.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 70,365 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.