2016 Vauxhall Mokka — MOT failures & pass rate
240,254 MOT tests on the 2016 Vauxhall Mokka are in this dataset, and 82.3% of them passed. That is 3.5 percentage points worse than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 14.2%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.0%) and lighting & signalling (7.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, position lamp and wipers — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 13,648 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.6% in the 0-30k band and 29.7% in the 150k+ band, a 21.1-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.1pp more often than petrol ones (19.1% vs 17.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.0% | 19,127 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 17,785 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.7% | 13,642 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.3% | 10,347 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.5% | 8,496 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 6,374 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 13,648 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 10,543 |
| 3 | Wipers | 9,255 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 8,276 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 7,188 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 6,281 |
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 | 24.5% | 58,942 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.7% | 40,069 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.4% | 22,562 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.0% | 21,582 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 13,421 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 12,665 |
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 | 40,589 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 125,047 | 16.5% |
| 60-90k | 59,620 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 12,611 | 28.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,905 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 465 | 29.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 158,655 | 17.0% |
| Diesel | 81,599 | 19.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 44,852 | 11.2% |
| 2022 | 46,292 | 13.8% |
| 2023 | 48,025 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 49,797 | 21.0% |
| 2025 | 51,288 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Mokka
On a 2016 Mokka, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.7% 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 Mokkas pass their MOT?
82.3% of the 240,254 2016 Vauxhall Mokka MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Vauxhall Mokka?
Suspension, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.4%).
Does the 2016 Mokka get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 29.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 240,254 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.