2016 Vauxhall Meriva — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 38,074 MOT tests analysed for the 2016 Vauxhall Meriva, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 84.9% was in line with the average for MPVs of a similar age (85.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 23.9% in the 150k+ group versus 8.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.9% | 2,629 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.2% | 1,993 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 1,588 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.0% | 1,156 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 880 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 716 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 2,791 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,044 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 731 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 649 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 562 |
| 6 | Wipers | 525 |
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 | 25.1% | 9,567 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.6% | 5,177 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.3% | 3,170 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.0% | 1,893 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 1,584 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.7% | 1,040 |
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 | 11,290 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 19,108 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 6,213 | 21.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,215 | 26.3% |
| 120-150k | 201 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 46 | 23.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 36,335 | 15.0% |
| Diesel | 1,739 | 16.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,272 | 9.7% |
| 2022 | 7,490 | 12.7% |
| 2023 | 7,736 | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 7,667 | 16.9% |
| 2025 | 7,909 | 19.9% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Meriva
Before buying a 2016 Vauxhall Meriva, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 6.9% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (6.9% 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 (5.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.2% 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 Vauxhall Merivas pass their MOT?
84.9% of the 38,074 2016 Vauxhall Meriva MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Vauxhall Meriva?
Suspension, recorded in 6.9% of tests, followed by tyres (5.2%).
Does the 2016 Meriva get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 23.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 38,074 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.