2016 Maserati Ghibli — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,538 MOT tests, the 2016 Maserati Ghibli recorded an 86.3% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail 12.7% of the time, so this is 1.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.6% of tests against 2.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and malfunction indicator lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 277 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2016 Ghibli fails 12.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.1% at 120-150k, a spread of only 0.9 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 12.2% fail against 14.2% for diesel, a 2.0-point gap across 4,538 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.6% | 343 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.8% | 126 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 122 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 115 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.4% | 110 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.9% | 41 |
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 | 277 |
| 2 | Wipers | 122 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 107 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 74 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 74 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 34 |
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 | 24.8% | 1,127 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.9% | 860 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.0% | 180 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 126 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.9% | 87 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 85 |
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 | 764 | 12.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,335 | 12.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,143 | 16.2% |
| 90-120k | 244 | 15.6% |
| 120-150k | 36 | 11.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,432 | 14.2% |
| Petrol | 1,106 | 12.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 959 | 14.1% |
| 2022 | 920 | 12.0% |
| 2023 | 888 | 12.6% |
| 2024 | 900 | 14.2% |
| 2025 | 871 | 15.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Ghibli
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.6% 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 (2.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.7% 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 Maserati Ghiblis pass their MOT?
86.3% of the 4,538 2016 Maserati Ghibli MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Maserati Ghibli?
Tyres, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by visibility (2.8%).
Does the 2016 Ghibli get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.0% in the 0-30k band to 11.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,538 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.