2016 Volkswagen Jetta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,733 MOT tests, the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta recorded an 82.8% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 13.6% of the time, so this is 3.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 9.5% of tests against 5.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, coil spring and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 298 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2016 Jetta fails 13.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 15.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.1 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 14.2% fail against 18.0% for diesel, a 3.9-point gap across 4,733 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.5% | 448 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.6% | 264 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.5% | 166 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 156 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 106 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.0% | 96 |
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 | 298 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 224 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 103 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 101 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 91 |
| 6 | Wipers | 80 |
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 | 23.7% | 1,120 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.5% | 827 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.0% | 566 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.8% | 229 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 187 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 103 |
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 | 730 | 13.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,874 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,215 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 506 | 21.1% |
| 120-150k | 212 | 21.2% |
| 150k+ | 196 | 15.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,697 | 18.0% |
| Petrol | 1,036 | 14.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 985 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 972 | 16.5% |
| 2023 | 966 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 930 | 18.0% |
| 2025 | 880 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Jetta
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 9.5% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (9.5% 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 (5.6% 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.
- Brakes (3.5% 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.
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 Jettas pass their MOT?
82.8% of the 4,733 2016 Volkswagen Jetta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Volkswagen Jetta?
Suspension, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by tyres (5.6%).
Does the 2016 Jetta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.7% in the 0-30k band to 15.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,733 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.