2016 Volkswagen Up — MOT failures & pass rate
72,652 MOT tests on the 2016 Volkswagen Up are in this dataset, and 87.3% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail 13.7% of the time, so this is 1.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.6%) and visibility (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, wipers and catalyst emissions — position lamp alone was recorded 3,036 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.3% versus 8.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 4,820 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.3% | 3,090 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.3% | 2,366 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.0% | 2,203 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.4% | 1,750 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 1,500 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 3,036 |
| 2 | Wipers | 2,806 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 2,745 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,013 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 1,314 |
| 6 | Fuel cap/sealing device | 1,299 |
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 | 24.1% | 17,506 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.6% | 9,168 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.5% | 4,753 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.3% | 4,579 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 1,894 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 462 |
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 | 29,747 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 32,491 | 14.3% |
| 60-90k | 8,718 | 18.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,379 | 22.6% |
| 120-150k | 235 | 26.0% |
| 150k+ | 77 | 27.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 72,553 | 12.7% |
| Electric | 99 | 9.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,096 | 9.8% |
| 2022 | 14,367 | 11.2% |
| 2023 | 14,589 | 12.7% |
| 2024 | 14,655 | 14.3% |
| 2025 | 14,945 | 15.2% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Up
On a 2016 Up, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (4.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (3.3% 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.
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 Ups pass their MOT?
87.3% of the 72,652 2016 Volkswagen Up MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Volkswagen Up?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by visibility (4.3%).
Does the 2016 Up get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 27.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 72,652 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.