2016 Renault Kangoo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 22,617 MOT tests, the 2016 Renault Kangoo recorded a 76.0% pass rate. That is 4.5 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 19.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.9% of all tests — 6.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, joints and stop lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 1,360 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.5% versus 17.2%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 6.5pp more often than electric ones (24.2% vs 17.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 3,365 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.4% | 1,890 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.3% | 1,657 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.1% | 1,597 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.3% | 1,428 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.8% | 1,304 |
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 | 1,360 |
| 2 | Joints | 1,226 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 1,204 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,180 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,153 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,063 |
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 | 28.4% | 6,421 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.8% | 6,295 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 3,350 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.2% | 2,084 |
| 5 | Suspension | 8.6% | 1,952 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.3% | 1,418 |
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 | 1,421 | 17.2% |
| 30-60k | 4,776 | 20.6% |
| 60-90k | 6,848 | 23.8% |
| 90-120k | 4,984 | 26.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,662 | 27.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,923 | 27.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 21,945 | 24.2% |
| Electric | 665 | 17.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,497 | 20.0% |
| 2022 | 4,659 | 23.9% |
| 2023 | 4,582 | 24.8% |
| 2024 | 4,516 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 4,363 | 25.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Kangoo
On a 2016 Kangoo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.4% 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 (7.3% 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 Renault Kangoos pass their MOT?
76.0% of the 22,617 2016 Renault Kangoo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Renault Kangoo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.9% of tests, followed by suspension (8.4%).
Does the 2016 Kangoo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.2% in the 0-30k band to 27.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,617 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.