2016 Nissan Navara — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Nissan Navara passed 83.2% of its 46,666 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as pick-up trucks of a similar age (17.5% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.7%) and suspension (7.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and malfunction indicator lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 2,480 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.1% versus 10.2%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 19.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 3,590 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.3% | 3,409 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.5% | 2,098 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 1,612 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.1% | 1,464 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 1,318 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 2,480 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,590 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,472 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,205 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,167 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,025 |
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 | 19.3% | 9,023 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.8% | 8,293 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.3% | 7,120 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 3,644 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.7% | 3,611 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.8% | 2,241 |
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 | 2,068 | 10.2% |
| 30-60k | 12,906 | 13.4% |
| 60-90k | 15,664 | 17.1% |
| 90-120k | 9,799 | 19.6% |
| 120-150k | 4,242 | 20.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,978 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,260 | 13.2% |
| 2022 | 9,306 | 14.7% |
| 2023 | 9,472 | 17.7% |
| 2024 | 9,373 | 18.5% |
| 2025 | 9,255 | 19.9% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Navara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (4.5% 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 Nissan Navaras pass their MOT?
83.2% of the 46,666 2016 Nissan Navara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Nissan Navara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by suspension (7.3%).
Does the 2016 Navara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.2% in the 0-30k band to 21.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 46,666 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.