2016 Vauxhall Corsa — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 459,040 MOT tests analysed for the 2016 Vauxhall Corsa, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, tyres and visibility. Its pass rate of 82.3% was below the average for superminis of a similar age (84.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 21.4% in the 150k+ group versus 13.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.2% | 28,588 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.9% | 22,694 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.5% | 20,533 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 20,374 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.4% | 20,232 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.2% | 19,054 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 27,021 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 20,468 |
| 3 | Wipers | 16,264 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 13,286 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 10,608 |
| 6 | Washers | 8,665 |
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 | 27.5% | 126,033 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.6% | 76,340 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.0% | 59,547 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.2% | 37,833 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.1% | 27,878 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.5% | 11,625 |
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 | 94,800 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 231,405 | 17.1% |
| 60-90k | 103,550 | 21.9% |
| 90-120k | 22,918 | 23.7% |
| 120-150k | 4,741 | 23.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,604 | 21.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 430,187 | 17.8% |
| Diesel | 28,842 | 16.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 88,921 | 13.7% |
| 2022 | 89,404 | 14.5% |
| 2023 | 91,835 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 93,463 | 20.1% |
| 2025 | 95,417 | 22.5% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Corsa
Before buying a 2016 Vauxhall Corsa, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 6.2% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (6.2% 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.
- Tyres (4.9% 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.
- Visibility (4.5% 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.
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 Vauxhall Corsas pass their MOT?
82.3% of the 459,040 2016 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Vauxhall Corsa?
Suspension, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by tyres (4.9%).
Does the 2016 Corsa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 21.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 459,040 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.