2016 Toyota Noah — MOT failures & pass rate
379 MOT tests on the 2016 Toyota Noah are in this dataset, and 86.0% of them passed. That is 1.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 15.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.1% of all tests — 5.0 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp and headlamp aim — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 19 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 18.2% versus 10.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 22.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.2% in 2021 to 8.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 46 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.1% | 27 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.2% | 12 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 11 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.8% | 7 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 19 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 13 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 12 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 11 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 11 |
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 | 22.2% | 84 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.0% | 57 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.8% | 41 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 34 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.1% | 23 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 13 |
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 | 95 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 111 | 14.4% |
| 90-120k | 69 | 15.9% |
| 120-150k | 55 | 18.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 218 | 6.9% |
| Petrol | 161 | 23.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 45 | 22.2% |
| 2022 | 61 | 14.8% |
| 2023 | 75 | 18.7% |
| 2024 | 78 | 12.8% |
| 2025 | 120 | 8.3% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Noah
On a 2016 Noah, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.1% 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.
- Brakes (3.2% 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 Toyota Noahs pass their MOT?
86.0% of the 379 2016 Toyota Noah MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Toyota Noah?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.1% of tests, followed by suspension (7.1%).
Does the 2016 Noah get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.5% in the 30-60k band to 18.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 379 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.