2016 Volkswagen Scirocco — MOT failures & pass rate
30,426 MOT tests on the 2016 Volkswagen Scirocco are in this dataset, and 86.2% of them passed. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (10.8% fail rate), the 2016 Scirocco comes out 3.0pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 7.2% of all tests — 3.6 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 948 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.9% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.2pp more often than petrol ones (15.4% vs 12.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.2% | 2,185 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.6% | 1,088 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 913 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 831 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.7% | 816 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 415 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 948 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 658 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 615 |
| 4 | Wipers | 561 |
| 5 | Washers | 394 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 360 |
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 | 25.4% | 7,729 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.8% | 6,013 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.8% | 3,885 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.8% | 1,755 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 1,063 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 2.0% | 617 |
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 | 3,379 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 15,326 | 13.1% |
| 60-90k | 8,983 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,219 | 19.0% |
| 120-150k | 444 | 19.1% |
| 150k+ | 74 | 18.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 15,722 | 12.3% |
| Diesel | 14,704 | 15.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,008 | 11.4% |
| 2022 | 6,066 | 12.9% |
| 2023 | 6,173 | 14.5% |
| 2024 | 6,077 | 14.5% |
| 2025 | 6,102 | 15.7% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Scirocco
On a 2016 Scirocco, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.2% 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.
- Brakes (3.6% 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.
- 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 Volkswagen Sciroccos pass their MOT?
86.2% of the 30,426 2016 Volkswagen Scirocco MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Volkswagen Scirocco?
Tyres, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by brakes (3.6%).
Does the 2016 Scirocco get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 18.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 30,426 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.