2016 Renault Master — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Renault Master passed 84.5% of its 4,543 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 19.6% of the time, so this is 4.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.3% of tests against 6.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 213 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.2% in the 0-30k band and 17.8% in the 150k+ band, a 9.6-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 17.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 561 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.0% | 274 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.0% | 183 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.4% | 156 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.8% | 127 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 126 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 213 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 192 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 111 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 99 |
| 5 | Outline marker lamp | 94 |
| 6 | Wipers | 93 |
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 | 17.7% | 806 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.0% | 680 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 421 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.3% | 378 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 214 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.4% | 198 |
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 | 596 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 850 | 14.3% |
| 60-90k | 659 | 17.3% |
| 90-120k | 586 | 15.9% |
| 120-150k | 588 | 17.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,255 | 17.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 877 | 13.8% |
| 2022 | 931 | 15.3% |
| 2023 | 918 | 15.4% |
| 2024 | 919 | 16.7% |
| 2025 | 898 | 16.3% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Master
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Visibility (4.0% 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 Renault Masters pass their MOT?
84.5% of the 4,543 2016 Renault Master MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Renault Master?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by brakes (6.0%).
Does the 2016 Master get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 17.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,543 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.