2016 Vauxhall Antara — MOT failures & pass rate
5,184 MOT tests on the 2016 Vauxhall Antara are in this dataset, and 77.8% of them passed. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 13.7% of the time, so this is 8.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.5% of all tests — 9.8 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, position lamp and tread depth — stop lamp alone was recorded 317 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.1% in the 0-30k band and 29.0% in the 120-150k band, a 17.8-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 855 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.7% | 347 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.5% | 336 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.3% | 274 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 214 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 184 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 317 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 317 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 258 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 227 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 214 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 193 |
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 | 25.8% | 1,339 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.2% | 1,256 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.5% | 1,166 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 457 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.8% | 455 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 433 |
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 | 422 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,422 | 20.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,744 | 25.3% |
| 90-120k | 502 | 28.9% |
| 120-150k | 69 | 29.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,021 | 18.2% |
| 2022 | 1,032 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 1,040 | 21.6% |
| 2024 | 1,039 | 24.1% |
| 2025 | 1,052 | 26.1% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Antara
On a 2016 Antara, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.7% 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.
- Tyres (6.5% 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.
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 Vauxhall Antaras pass their MOT?
77.8% of the 5,184 2016 Vauxhall Antara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Vauxhall Antara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by suspension (6.7%).
Does the 2016 Antara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 29.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,184 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.