2016 Renault Twingo — MOT failures & pass rate
17,879 MOT tests on the 2016 Renault Twingo are in this dataset, and 82.3% of them passed. That is 4.0 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 13.7%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.7%) and tyres (5.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, catalyst emissions and wipers — ball joint alone was recorded 804 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.8% in the 0-30k band and 30.1% in the 90-120k band, a 18.3-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
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 | Suspension | 6.7% | 1,195 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.5% | 976 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.9% | 873 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 820 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 558 |
| 6 | Brakes | 3.0% | 542 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 804 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 750 |
| 3 | Wipers | 671 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 666 |
| 5 | Washers | 369 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 290 |
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 | 25.6% | 4,578 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.4% | 2,924 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.2% | 1,291 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.7% | 848 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 447 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 441 |
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 | 7,596 | 11.8% |
| 30-60k | 8,308 | 20.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,766 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 186 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,402 | 11.9% |
| 2022 | 3,568 | 15.7% |
| 2023 | 3,584 | 18.2% |
| 2024 | 3,650 | 20.4% |
| 2025 | 3,675 | 22.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Twingo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 6.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (6.7% 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.
- Tyres (5.5% 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.
- Visibility (4.9% 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 Twingos pass their MOT?
82.3% of the 17,879 2016 Renault Twingo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Renault Twingo?
Suspension, recorded in 6.7% of tests, followed by tyres (5.5%).
Does the 2016 Twingo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,879 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.