2016 Renault Kadjar — MOT failures & pass rate
113,602 MOT tests on the 2016 Renault Kadjar are in this dataset, and 83.4% of them passed. That is 2.8 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 13.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.4%) and tyres (5.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, brake pads and tread depth — headlamp alone was recorded 4,726 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.2% in the 0-30k band and 25.0% in the 150k+ band, a 16.8-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.4pp more often than petrol ones (17.0% vs 14.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 7,274 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.9% | 6,751 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.8% | 6,543 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.2% | 4,752 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 3,856 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 1,504 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 4,726 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 4,390 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 4,300 |
| 4 | Wipers | 3,196 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 2,538 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 2,378 |
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 | 27.3% | 30,970 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.2% | 26,406 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.6% | 13,169 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.5% | 10,774 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 3,965 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.9% | 3,352 |
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 | 10,842 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 55,017 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 35,787 | 19.7% |
| 90-120k | 9,752 | 23.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,765 | 26.4% |
| 150k+ | 404 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 95,246 | 17.0% |
| Petrol | 18,356 | 14.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,770 | 11.9% |
| 2022 | 22,202 | 13.7% |
| 2023 | 22,513 | 15.9% |
| 2024 | 23,203 | 19.0% |
| 2025 | 23,914 | 22.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Kadjar
On a 2016 Kadjar, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.9% 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.
- Suspension (5.8% 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.
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 Renault Kadjars pass their MOT?
83.4% of the 113,602 2016 Renault Kadjar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Renault Kadjar?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by tyres (5.9%).
Does the 2016 Kadjar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 25.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 113,602 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.