2016 Vauxhall Corsa — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Vauxhall Corsa passed 82.3% of its 459,058 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.2 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 15.6%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.2%) and tyres (4.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, coil spring and wipers — track rod end alone was recorded 27,022 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.0% in the 0-30k band and 21.4% in the 150k+ band, a 8.4-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 16.5% of the time against 17.8% for petrol.
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 — 13.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.2% | 28,591 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.9% | 22,696 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.5% | 20,534 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 20,374 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.4% | 20,233 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.2% | 19,055 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 27,022 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 20,470 |
| 3 | Wipers | 16,265 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 13,286 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 10,610 |
| 6 | Washers | 8,665 |
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% | 126,041 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.6% | 76,345 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.0% | 59,547 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.2% | 37,836 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.1% | 27,880 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.5% | 11,626 |
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 | 94,800 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 231,409 | 17.1% |
| 60-90k | 103,558 | 21.9% |
| 90-120k | 22,921 | 23.7% |
| 120-150k | 4,742 | 23.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,606 | 21.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 430,201 | 17.8% |
| Diesel | 28,846 | 16.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 88,922 | 13.7% |
| 2022 | 89,406 | 14.5% |
| 2023 | 91,837 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 93,470 | 20.1% |
| 2025 | 95,423 | 22.5% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Corsa
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 6.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (6.2% 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 (4.9% 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.
- Visibility (4.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Corsas pass their MOT?
82.3% of the 459,058 2016 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Vauxhall Corsa?
Suspension, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by tyres (4.9%).
Does the 2016 Corsa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 21.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 459,058 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.