2016 Lotus Evora — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 414 MOT tests, the 2016 Lotus Evora recorded a 94.2% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 14.5% of the time, so this is 8.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (2.9%) and tyres (1.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, registration plates and individual direction indicators — headlamp aim alone was recorded 8 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 10.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 6.9% in 2021 to 4.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 12 |
| 2 | Tyres | 1.9% | 8 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.2% | 5 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.2% | 5 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 3 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 5 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 3 |
| 4 | Washers | 3 |
| 5 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 3 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 2 |
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 | 10.4% | 43 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.6% | 15 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.4% | 14 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.2% | 9 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 7 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.5% | 2 |
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 | 330 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 80 | 1.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 87 | 6.9% |
| 2022 | 84 | 4.8% |
| 2023 | 83 | 6.0% |
| 2024 | 79 | 6.3% |
| 2025 | 81 | 4.9% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Evora
On a 2016 Evora, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (2.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (1.9% 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.
- Visibility (1.2% 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.
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 Lotus Evoras pass their MOT?
94.2% of the 414 2016 Lotus Evora MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Lotus Evora?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 2.9% of tests, followed by tyres (1.9%).
Does the 2016 Evora get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 1.3% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 414 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.