2016 SEAT Mii — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 12,841 MOT tests, the 2016 SEAT Mii recorded an 86.5% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (14.6% fail rate), the 2016 Mii comes out 1.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 7.2% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and wipers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 627 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.3% once past 120-150k — 2.8× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 925 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.1% | 532 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.7% | 471 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.5% | 450 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 292 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 287 |
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 | 627 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 553 |
| 3 | Wipers | 479 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 395 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 276 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 248 |
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 | 24.5% | 3,151 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.8% | 1,907 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.5% | 830 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.4% | 820 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 357 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 80 |
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 | 4,329 | 9.4% |
| 30-60k | 6,407 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,789 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 266 | 24.4% |
| 120-150k | 38 | 26.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,535 | 10.5% |
| 2022 | 2,523 | 12.2% |
| 2023 | 2,536 | 12.8% |
| 2024 | 2,591 | 14.7% |
| 2025 | 2,656 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Mii
On a 2016 Mii, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (4.1% 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.
- Tyres (3.7% 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.
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 SEAT Miis pass their MOT?
86.5% of the 12,841 2016 SEAT Mii MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 SEAT Mii?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by visibility (4.1%).
Does the 2016 Mii get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.4% in the 0-30k band to 26.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,841 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.