2016 Vauxhall Cascada — MOT failures & pass rate
2,960 MOT tests on the 2016 Vauxhall Cascada are in this dataset, and 85.1% of them passed. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 10.8% of the time, so this is 4.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.7%) and tyres (5.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, brake pads and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 183 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.0% in the 0-30k band and 27.5% in the 90-120k band, a 18.5-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 13.4% fail against 17.2% for diesel, a 3.8-point gap across 2,960 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.7% | 169 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.2% | 155 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.9% | 114 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 80 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 76 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.9% | 55 |
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 | 183 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 96 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 78 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 55 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 50 |
| 6 | Wipers | 37 |
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 | 26.6% | 787 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.3% | 513 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.7% | 199 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.8% | 111 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 91 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 62 |
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 | 863 | 9.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,559 | 16.2% |
| 60-90k | 443 | 18.7% |
| 90-120k | 80 | 27.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,815 | 13.4% |
| Diesel | 1,145 | 17.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 576 | 10.9% |
| 2022 | 581 | 13.4% |
| 2023 | 585 | 14.9% |
| 2024 | 607 | 16.0% |
| 2025 | 611 | 18.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Cascada
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 5.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (5.7% 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 (5.2% 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 (3.9% 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 Vauxhall Cascadas pass their MOT?
85.1% of the 2,960 2016 Vauxhall Cascada MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Vauxhall Cascada?
Suspension, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by tyres (5.2%).
Does the 2016 Cascada get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.0% in the 0-30k band to 27.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,960 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.