2016 Volkswagen Beetle — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Volkswagen Beetle passed 81.4% of its 13,840 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.0 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 15.6%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.6%) and lighting & signalling (7.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, rear fog lamp and wipers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 1,059 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.1% in the 0-30k band and 27.1% in the 120-150k band, a 14.1-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.4pp more often than petrol ones (20.8% vs 17.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.6% | 1,191 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 964 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.4% | 612 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 467 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.6% | 362 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 220 |
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 | 1,059 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 732 |
| 3 | Wipers | 491 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 454 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 245 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 193 |
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 | 27.3% | 3,773 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.4% | 1,721 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.7% | 1,615 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.9% | 671 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 590 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 286 |
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 | 3,661 | 13.1% |
| 30-60k | 6,927 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 2,624 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 526 | 26.8% |
| 120-150k | 70 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 8,642 | 17.3% |
| Diesel | 5,198 | 20.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,634 | 14.6% |
| 2022 | 2,748 | 17.5% |
| 2023 | 2,805 | 19.1% |
| 2024 | 2,798 | 20.7% |
| 2025 | 2,855 | 20.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Beetle
On a 2016 Beetle, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.6% 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 (7.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.4% 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 Volkswagen Beetles pass their MOT?
81.4% of the 13,840 2016 Volkswagen Beetle MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Volkswagen Beetle?
Suspension, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.0%).
Does the 2016 Beetle get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.1% in the 0-30k band to 27.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,840 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.