2016 Vauxhall Viva — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 77,739 MOT tests, the 2016 Vauxhall Viva recorded an 88.4% pass rate. Against city cars of a similar age (13.7% fail rate), the 2016 Viva comes out 2.1pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.2%) and visibility (4.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tyre pressure monitoring system and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 3,353 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.8% versus 7.1%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.2% | 4,828 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.6% | 3,587 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 2,334 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.5% | 1,946 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.9% | 1,469 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 1,008 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 3,353 |
| 2 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 2,445 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,242 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,226 |
| 5 | Washers | 1,144 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 870 |
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 | 23.2% | 18,025 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.5% | 7,408 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 5,691 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.7% | 5,240 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.3% | 4,888 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 3,283 |
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 | 32,413 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 34,478 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 9,090 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,453 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 215 | 25.6% |
| 150k+ | 78 | 21.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,083 | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 15,268 | 9.0% |
| 2023 | 15,372 | 10.4% |
| 2024 | 15,721 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 16,295 | 17.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Viva
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.2% 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.
- Visibility (4.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 Vivas pass their MOT?
88.4% of the 77,739 2016 Vauxhall Viva MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Vauxhall Viva?
Tyres, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by visibility (4.6%).
Does the 2016 Viva get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 21.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 77,739 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.