2016 Volkswagen Amarok — MOT failures & pass rate
14,506 MOT tests on the 2016 Volkswagen Amarok are in this dataset, and 85.7% of them passed. That is 3.2 percentage points better than pick-up trucks of a similar age, which fail at 17.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.2%) and brakes (7.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and registration plate lamp(s) — pins and bushes alone was recorded 391 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.9% once past 150k — 3.4× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 1,039 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.2% | 1,039 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.7% | 538 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.5% | 365 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 337 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.4% | 202 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 391 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 389 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 375 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 354 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 326 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 244 |
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 | 17.0% | 2,464 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.1% | 1,897 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.7% | 1,698 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 1,124 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.2% | 898 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.2% | 751 |
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 | 386 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 3,408 | 9.1% |
| 60-90k | 4,931 | 13.5% |
| 90-120k | 3,179 | 16.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,514 | 19.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,086 | 22.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,915 | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 2,947 | 12.3% |
| 2023 | 2,876 | 13.7% |
| 2024 | 2,940 | 16.7% |
| 2025 | 2,828 | 18.2% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Amarok
On a 2016 Amarok, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.2% 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.
- Suspension (3.7% 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.
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 Volkswagen Amaroks pass their MOT?
85.7% of the 14,506 2016 Volkswagen Amarok MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Volkswagen Amarok?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by brakes (7.2%).
Does the 2016 Amarok get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 22.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,506 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.