2016 Jaguar XJ — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Jaguar XJ passed 88.8% of its 5,918 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 12.7% of the time, so this is 1.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.1%) and suspension (2.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 137 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2016 XJ fails 5.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 4.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.1% | 300 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.5% | 145 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 125 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 102 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.4% | 85 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.3% | 79 |
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 | 137 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 111 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 88 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 59 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 57 |
| 6 | Washers | 56 |
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% | 1,437 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 834 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.3% | 314 |
| 4 | Other defects | 2.8% | 166 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 143 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.2% | 129 |
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 | 990 | 5.8% |
| 30-60k | 2,597 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,553 | 14.9% |
| 90-120k | 551 | 15.3% |
| 120-150k | 154 | 14.9% |
| 150k+ | 72 | 9.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,694 | 11.3% |
| Petrol | 224 | 8.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,251 | 9.8% |
| 2022 | 1,194 | 9.6% |
| 2023 | 1,187 | 12.0% |
| 2024 | 1,149 | 12.5% |
| 2025 | 1,137 | 12.2% |
What to check before buying a 2016 XJ
On a 2016 XJ, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.1% 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 (2.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 XJs pass their MOT?
88.8% of the 5,918 2016 Jaguar XJ MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Jaguar XJ?
Tyres, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by suspension (2.5%).
Does the 2016 XJ get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.8% in the 0-30k band to 9.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,918 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.