2016 Subaru Impreza — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Subaru Impreza passed 90.7% of its 1,127 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 13.5% of the time, so this is 4.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.1%) and tyres (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 21 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.3% in the 0-30k band and 11.1% in the 150k+ band, a 5.8-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 58 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.0% | 34 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.9% | 33 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.0% | 23 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.7% | 19 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 17 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 2 | Wipers | 20 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 17 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 14 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 12 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 12 |
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 | 18.3% | 206 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.6% | 176 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.3% | 105 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 57 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 42 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 36 |
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 | 283 | 5.3% |
| 30-60k | 367 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 234 | 8.6% |
| 90-120k | 145 | 11.7% |
| 120-150k | 53 | 15.1% |
| 150k+ | 45 | 11.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 255 | 9.0% |
| 2022 | 223 | 7.2% |
| 2023 | 224 | 8.9% |
| 2024 | 209 | 9.6% |
| 2025 | 216 | 12.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Impreza
On a 2016 Impreza, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (5.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.0% 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 (2.9% 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.
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 Imprezas pass their MOT?
90.7% of the 1,127 2016 Subaru Impreza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Subaru Impreza?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by tyres (3.0%).
Does the 2016 Impreza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 0-30k band to 11.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,127 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.