2016 Subaru Wrx — MOT failures & pass rate
1,742 MOT tests on the 2016 Subaru Wrx are in this dataset, and 93.3% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 14.5% of the time, so this is 7.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (2.1%) and tyres (1.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, tread depth and brake pads — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 51 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 3.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 11.4% once past 90-120k — 2.9× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 14.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 37 |
| 2 | Tyres | 1.8% | 32 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.6% | 28 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 25 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.0% | 18 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.6% | 11 |
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 | 51 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 24 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 15 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 13 |
| 6 | Wipers | 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 | 14.1% | 245 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.6% | 168 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.3% | 75 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.1% | 72 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 53 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 39 |
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 | 515 | 3.9% |
| 30-60k | 938 | 6.8% |
| 60-90k | 244 | 11.1% |
| 90-120k | 35 | 11.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 351 | 4.8% |
| 2022 | 358 | 7.0% |
| 2023 | 349 | 6.3% |
| 2024 | 338 | 6.8% |
| 2025 | 346 | 8.7% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Wrx
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: emissions & environmental accounted for 2.1% of tests. Start there.
- Emissions & environmental (2.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Tyres (1.8% 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 (1.6% 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 Subaru Wrxs pass their MOT?
93.3% of the 1,742 2016 Subaru Wrx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Subaru Wrx?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 2.1% of tests, followed by tyres (1.8%).
Does the 2016 Wrx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.9% in the 0-30k band to 11.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,742 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.