2016 Volkswagen Passat — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 88,790 MOT tests, the 2016 Volkswagen Passat recorded an 86.8% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail 15.3% of the time, so this is 2.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.7%) and suspension (4.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, tread depth and headlamp aim — shock absorbers alone was recorded 3,728 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.3% in the 0-30k band and 14.3% in the 150k+ band, a 8.1-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 12.6% of the time against 13.2% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 5,062 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.6% | 4,099 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 3,371 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.5% | 2,187 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 1,787 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.7% | 1,483 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 3,728 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 3,048 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,724 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,652 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,539 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,226 |
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 | 25.0% | 22,164 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.7% | 17,461 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.7% | 9,498 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.4% | 6,597 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 3,754 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 1,255 |
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 | 2,399 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 18,616 | 9.4% |
| 60-90k | 27,056 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 20,530 | 16.0% |
| 120-150k | 10,831 | 15.1% |
| 150k+ | 9,346 | 14.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 87,770 | 13.2% |
| Hybrid | 954 | 12.6% |
| Petrol | 66 | 12.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,861 | 11.3% |
| 2022 | 17,860 | 12.2% |
| 2023 | 17,951 | 13.6% |
| 2024 | 17,763 | 14.3% |
| 2025 | 17,355 | 14.7% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Passat
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.7% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Suspension (4.6% 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 (3.8% 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 Volkswagen Passats pass their MOT?
86.8% of the 88,790 2016 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Volkswagen Passat?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by suspension (4.6%).
Does the 2016 Passat get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 14.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 88,790 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.