2016 Mitsubishi Asx — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Mitsubishi Asx passed 87.7% of its 18,065 recorded MOT tests. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 14.1% of the time, so this is 1.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (6.0%) and tyres (3.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 656 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.0% in the 0-30k band and 20.7% in the 150k+ band, a 14.7-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 11.9% of the time against 12.6% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 25.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.0% 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 | Brakes | 6.0% | 1,089 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.5% | 640 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.3% | 589 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 546 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.1% | 374 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.9% | 158 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 656 |
| 2 | Wipers | 495 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 476 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 372 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 367 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 262 |
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 | 25.8% | 4,667 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.6% | 4,087 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.9% | 1,429 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.6% | 1,379 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 512 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.5% | 456 |
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 | 2,626 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 8,461 | 10.2% |
| 60-90k | 5,114 | 15.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,476 | 20.9% |
| 120-150k | 328 | 24.4% |
| 150k+ | 58 | 20.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,113 | 12.6% |
| Petrol | 5,952 | 11.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,520 | 9.0% |
| 2022 | 3,520 | 9.6% |
| 2023 | 3,593 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 3,715 | 15.3% |
| 2025 | 3,717 | 15.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Asx
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 6.0% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (6.0% 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.
- Tyres (3.5% 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 (3.3% 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 Mitsubishi Asxs pass their MOT?
87.7% of the 18,065 2016 Mitsubishi Asx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Mitsubishi Asx?
Brakes, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by tyres (3.5%).
Does the 2016 Asx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 20.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,065 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.