2016 Vauxhall Combo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 34,035 MOT tests, the 2016 Vauxhall Combo recorded a 76.2% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 19.4% of the time, so this is 4.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.5%) and suspension (12.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 2,545 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.4% in the 0-30k band and 24.8% in the 150k+ band, a 7.4-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 4,578 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.9% | 4,382 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.1% | 2,422 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.1% | 1,735 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 1,403 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 1,354 |
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 | 2,545 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,600 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,367 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 1,353 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 1,244 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,237 |
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 | 27.5% | 9,360 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.7% | 6,369 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.9% | 5,058 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.4% | 3,184 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 2,424 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 2,381 |
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 | 1,576 | 17.4% |
| 30-60k | 7,366 | 20.9% |
| 60-90k | 10,967 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 8,349 | 26.2% |
| 120-150k | 3,903 | 25.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,867 | 24.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 33,923 | 23.8% |
| Petrol | 112 | 12.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,066 | 21.6% |
| 2022 | 7,008 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 6,968 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 6,690 | 25.1% |
| 2025 | 6,303 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Combo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.9% 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 (7.1% 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 Combos pass their MOT?
76.2% of the 34,035 2016 Vauxhall Combo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Vauxhall Combo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by suspension (12.9%).
Does the 2016 Combo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.4% in the 0-30k band to 24.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 34,035 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.