2016 Skoda Citigo — MOT failures & pass rate
44,555 MOT tests on the 2016 Skoda Citigo are in this dataset, and 86.9% of them passed. That is effectively the same as city cars of a similar age (13.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.1% of tests against 4.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, catalyst emissions and wipers — position lamp alone was recorded 2,625 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.5% in the 0-30k band and 28.2% in the 120-150k band, a 19.7-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 3,586 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.2% | 1,866 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.3% | 1,455 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.1% | 1,392 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.7% | 1,202 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 972 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 2,625 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 1,972 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,706 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,416 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 958 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 838 |
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 | 24.8% | 11,057 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.7% | 6,106 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.2% | 3,194 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.1% | 2,698 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 1,228 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 280 |
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 | 16,115 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 21,241 | 14.1% |
| 60-90k | 5,994 | 19.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,013 | 24.3% |
| 120-150k | 163 | 28.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,650 | 10.1% |
| 2022 | 8,689 | 10.7% |
| 2023 | 8,936 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 9,007 | 15.0% |
| 2025 | 9,273 | 16.6% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Citigo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (4.2% 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.
- Brakes (3.3% 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 Skoda Citigos pass their MOT?
86.9% of the 44,555 2016 Skoda Citigo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Skoda Citigo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.1% of tests, followed by visibility (4.2%).
Does the 2016 Citigo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 28.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 44,555 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.