2016 Vauxhall Viva MOT pass rate: 84.3% (40,955 tests)
Is the 2016 Viva getting worse?
Pass rate of 2016-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 88.5% +5.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 84.5% +3.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 79.9% +0.3 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2016 Viva
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4,114 | 33.9% |
| 2 | Suspension | 2,037 | 16.8% |
| 3 | Visibility | 1,494 | 12.3% |
| 4 | Brakes | 1,357 | 11.2% |
| 5 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,118 | 9.2% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 839 | 6.9% |
All Viva years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 15,183 | 81.7% | +3.0 pts | 41,102 |
| 2016 (this page) | 40,955 | 84.3% | +3.0 pts | 38,362 |
| 2017 | 28,725 | 88.0% | +4.0 pts | 32,783 |
| 2018 | 16,113 | 90.1% | +3.8 pts | 26,669 |
| 2019 | 12,025 | 91.1% | +2.7 pts | 21,517 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Vauxhall Viva years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2016 Vauxhall Viva reliable?
2016-registered examples passed 84.3% of their MOT tests (40,955 tests, 2023–2025), +3.0 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 10 years old with a median 38,362 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2016 Viva?
The median tested example shows 38,362 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.