2016 Volkswagen Touareg — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 22,809 MOT tests, the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg recorded an 84.3% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 12.5% of the time, so this is 3.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 9.8% of all tests — 5.4 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, coil spring and tread depth — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 1,742 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.6% versus 11.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 2,228 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.4% | 995 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.3% | 527 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.2% | 508 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 447 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.6% | 375 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 1,742 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 545 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 528 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 465 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 440 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 419 |
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 | 18.9% | 4,304 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.8% | 3,596 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.7% | 1,518 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 647 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 476 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.0% | 448 |
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 | 814 | 11.4% |
| 30-60k | 9,227 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 8,957 | 16.0% |
| 90-120k | 3,061 | 17.3% |
| 120-150k | 606 | 20.1% |
| 150k+ | 142 | 17.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,651 | 15.3% |
| 2022 | 4,595 | 15.2% |
| 2023 | 4,575 | 16.2% |
| 2024 | 4,516 | 16.1% |
| 2025 | 4,472 | 16.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Touareg
On a 2016 Touareg, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.8% 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.
- Brakes (2.3% 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 Touaregs pass their MOT?
84.3% of the 22,809 2016 Volkswagen Touareg MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Volkswagen Touareg?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.8% of tests, followed by tyres (4.4%).
Does the 2016 Touareg get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 0-30k band to 17.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,809 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.