2016 Toyota Hiace — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Toyota Hiace passed 80.7% of its 274 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (14.1% fail rate), the 2016 Hiace comes out 5.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.9% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, rear fog lamp and position lamp — wipers alone was recorded 13 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 28.1% versus 8.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 23.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.9% in 2021 to 20.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 30 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.7% | 21 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.2% | 17 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 15 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 11 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.2% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 13 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 11 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 11 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 10 |
| 5 | Joints | 9 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 23.7% | 65 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.9% | 49 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.5% | 48 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 37 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 30 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 15 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 35 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 65 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 59 | 15.3% |
| 120-150k | 46 | 23.9% |
| 150k+ | 64 | 28.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 145 | 18.6% |
| Diesel | 129 | 20.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 71 | 23.9% |
| 2022 | 54 | 16.7% |
| 2023 | 56 | 14.3% |
| 2024 | 48 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 45 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Hiace
On a 2016 Hiace, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.7% 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.
- Suspension (6.2% 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 Toyota Hiaces pass their MOT?
80.7% of the 274 2016 Toyota Hiace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Toyota Hiace?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.9% of tests, followed by brakes (7.7%).
Does the 2016 Hiace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 30-60k band to 28.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 274 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.