2016 Lexus Nx — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Lexus Nx passed 93.1% of its 19,724 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (13.8% fail rate), the 2016 Nx comes out 6.9pp better. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (3.5%) and tyres (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — wipers alone was recorded 778 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 3.6% in the 0-30k band and 10.5% in the 150k+ band, a 6.9-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 3.5% | 700 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.0% | 585 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 318 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 271 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 270 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 64 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 778 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 257 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 231 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 211 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 197 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 134 |
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 | 22.4% | 4,425 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.3% | 2,618 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.5% | 1,666 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.0% | 1,184 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 674 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.2% | 36 |
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 | 2,948 | 3.6% |
| 30-60k | 10,209 | 6.3% |
| 60-90k | 4,901 | 8.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,261 | 10.9% |
| 120-150k | 298 | 9.7% |
| 150k+ | 105 | 10.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 19,488 | 6.9% |
| Petrol | 236 | 8.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,853 | 4.7% |
| 2022 | 3,898 | 5.7% |
| 2023 | 3,967 | 7.3% |
| 2024 | 4,006 | 7.9% |
| 2025 | 4,000 | 8.6% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Nx
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 3.5% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (3.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (3.0% 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 (1.6% 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 Lexus Nxs pass their MOT?
93.1% of the 19,724 2016 Lexus Nx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Lexus Nx?
Visibility, recorded in 3.5% of tests, followed by tyres (3.0%).
Does the 2016 Nx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.6% in the 0-30k band to 10.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,724 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.