2016 Skoda Superb — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Skoda Superb passed 87.1% of its 48,123 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.4 percentage points better than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 15.3%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.5%) and suspension (4.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, tread depth and headlamp aim — shock absorbers alone was recorded 1,872 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.4% in the 0-30k band and 13.0% in the 150k+ band, a 5.6-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 10.8% fail against 13.4% for diesel, a 2.6-point gap across 48,123 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.5% | 2,633 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.9% | 2,363 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 1,184 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.4% | 1,151 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 1,053 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.4% | 676 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 1,872 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,345 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 988 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 935 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 826 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 808 |
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 | 23.9% | 11,483 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.9% | 9,567 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.1% | 5,834 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.5% | 3,593 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 1,870 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 1,169 |
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 | 2,251 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 13,077 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 14,716 | 13.7% |
| 90-120k | 8,960 | 16.0% |
| 120-150k | 4,474 | 14.3% |
| 150k+ | 4,642 | 13.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 40,065 | 13.4% |
| Petrol | 8,058 | 10.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,675 | 11.0% |
| 2022 | 9,679 | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 9,691 | 12.9% |
| 2024 | 9,661 | 14.2% |
| 2025 | 9,417 | 14.9% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Superb
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.5% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Suspension (4.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 Skoda Superbs pass their MOT?
87.1% of the 48,123 2016 Skoda Superb MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Skoda Superb?
Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by suspension (4.9%).
Does the 2016 Superb get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 13.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 48,123 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.