2016 Subaru Brz — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Subaru Brz passed 90.4% of its 664 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (14.5% fail rate), the 2016 Brz comes out 4.8pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.5%) and brakes (2.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, catalyst emissions and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 19 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2016 Brz fails 7.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.7% at 60-90k, a spread of only 0.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 30 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.9% | 19 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.3% | 15 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 11 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 11 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.8% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 19 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 17 |
| 3 | Wipers | 12 |
| 4 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 12 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 12 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 6 |
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 | 17.6% | 117 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.7% | 104 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.6% | 24 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.3% | 22 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 21 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.4% | 16 |
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 | 204 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 346 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 91 | 7.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 142 | 9.9% |
| 2022 | 133 | 6.8% |
| 2023 | 129 | 9.3% |
| 2024 | 126 | 10.3% |
| 2025 | 134 | 11.9% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Brz
On a 2016 Brz, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.5% 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.
- Brakes (2.9% 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 (2.3% 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 Subaru Brzs pass their MOT?
90.4% of the 664 2016 Subaru Brz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Subaru Brz?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by brakes (2.9%).
Does the 2016 Brz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 7.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 664 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.