2016 Toyota Hilux — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 27,433 MOT tests, the 2016 Toyota Hilux recorded an 82.6% pass rate. Pick-up trucks of a similar age fail at 17.5%, so the 2016 Hilux sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.5%) and brakes (8.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and wipers — coil spring alone was recorded 1,173 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.5% versus 11.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 17.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 2,599 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.3% | 2,267 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 1,933 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.0% | 1,091 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.4% | 665 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 517 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,173 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 978 |
| 3 | Wipers | 963 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 875 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 630 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 619 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.1% | 4,682 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.3% | 4,184 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.6% | 2,626 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.0% | 1,640 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.0% | 1,370 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 1,285 |
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 | 1,994 | 11.7% |
| 30-60k | 7,966 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 8,490 | 17.6% |
| 90-120k | 5,065 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,234 | 22.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,679 | 23.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,629 | 13.8% |
| 2022 | 5,571 | 15.9% |
| 2023 | 5,591 | 18.3% |
| 2024 | 5,410 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 5,232 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Hilux
On a 2016 Hilux, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.3% 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 (7.0% 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 Hiluxs pass their MOT?
82.6% of the 27,433 2016 Toyota Hilux MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Toyota Hilux?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by brakes (8.3%).
Does the 2016 Hilux get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.7% in the 0-30k band to 23.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,433 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.