2016 MG MG6 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,908 MOT tests, the 2016 MG MG6 recorded an 80.4% pass rate. That is 5.2 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 14.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.3% of all tests — 4.2 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 116 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.9% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 215 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.1% | 135 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.0% | 134 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.4% | 65 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 60 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 30 |
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 | 116 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 109 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 87 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 73 |
| 5 | Wipers | 46 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 40 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 30.8% | 587 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.9% | 571 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.2% | 213 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.5% | 123 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 90 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 66 |
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 | 266 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 937 | 19.0% |
| 60-90k | 507 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 137 | 27.0% |
| 120-150k | 43 | 20.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 395 | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 399 | 17.0% |
| 2023 | 413 | 22.3% |
| 2024 | 367 | 21.5% |
| 2025 | 334 | 21.9% |
What to check before buying a 2016 MG6
On a 2016 MG6, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.1% 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.
- Brakes (7.0% 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 MG MG6s pass their MOT?
80.4% of the 1,908 2016 MG MG6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 MG MG6?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.3% of tests, followed by tyres (7.1%).
Does the 2016 MG6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 20.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,908 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.