2016 Volkswagen Tiguan — MOT failures & pass rate
104,321 MOT tests on the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan are in this dataset, and 89.0% of them passed. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 13.8% of the time, so this is 2.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.5%) and suspension (3.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, pins and bushes and malfunction indicator lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 2,975 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.7% once past 150k — 2.7× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 7.8% fail against 11.1% for diesel, a 3.3-point gap across 104,321 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 4,679 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.3% | 3,405 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.4% | 2,499 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 2,097 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 1,743 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.4% | 1,469 |
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 | 2,975 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 2,103 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,683 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,588 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,343 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 1,321 |
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 | 23.9% | 24,942 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.2% | 22,107 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.6% | 13,164 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.5% | 8,894 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 3,126 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 1,403 |
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 | 8,237 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 47,107 | 9.4% |
| 60-90k | 35,725 | 12.5% |
| 90-120k | 10,571 | 15.4% |
| 120-150k | 2,129 | 15.9% |
| 150k+ | 545 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 99,198 | 11.1% |
| Petrol | 5,123 | 7.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,434 | 8.4% |
| 2022 | 20,753 | 9.7% |
| 2023 | 20,867 | 10.9% |
| 2024 | 20,993 | 11.8% |
| 2025 | 21,274 | 13.9% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Tiguan
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.5% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.5% 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 (3.3% 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.
- Brakes (2.4% 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 Tiguans pass their MOT?
89.0% of the 104,321 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by suspension (3.3%).
Does the 2016 Tiguan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 104,321 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.