2016 Nissan Skyline — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Nissan Skyline passed 89.3% of its 572 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 13.8% of the time, so this is 3.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.7% of tests against 4.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, rear fog lamp and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 25 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 15.4% versus 7.6%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 15.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.0% in 2021 to 9.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 44 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 23 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.1% | 12 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.1% | 12 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 9 |
| 6 | Brakes | 1.4% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 25 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 18 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 12 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 10 |
| 6 | Washers | 9 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.9% | 91 |
| 2 | Tyres | 14.0% | 80 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.9% | 51 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 45 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.2% | 41 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 36 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 92 | 7.6% |
| 60-90k | 219 | 10.1% |
| 90-120k | 131 | 12.2% |
| 120-150k | 69 | 14.5% |
| 150k+ | 39 | 15.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 161 | 13.0% |
| 2022 | 129 | 10.1% |
| 2023 | 125 | 9.6% |
| 2024 | 85 | 9.4% |
| 2025 | 72 | 9.7% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Skyline
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.
- Emissions & environmental (4.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (2.1% 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 Nissan Skylines pass their MOT?
89.3% of the 572 2016 Nissan Skyline MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Nissan Skyline?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (4.0%).
Does the 2016 Skyline get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 30-60k band to 15.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 572 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.