Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Ford Mustang?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2016 Ford Mustang?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2016 Ford Mustang?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2016 Ford Mustang vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

28% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2016 Ford Mustang reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,734 vehicles, the 2016 Ford Mustang has a first-time MOT pass rate of 87.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 Ford Mustang?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Ford Mustang are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (31.4% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (30.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (24.1% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2016 Ford Mustang?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Ford Mustang (2016)

2,734 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87.9% first-time pass rate

2016 Ford Mustang

CarHunch analysed 2,734 real MOT records for the 2016 Ford Mustang. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 Mustang passes its MOT at 87.9%, well above the UK average of 80%, which is a genuine strength—but 28% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, a notably high figure that warrants a pre-purchase inspection. This is a car that generally keeps running well, but the dangerous defect rate suggests you're buying into a model with some inherited risk.

At 24,953 miles median, these Mustangs are lightly used for their age, which explains the strong pass rate and why they're averaging just 1.05 failures per test. With 5.1 advisories per vehicle logged, you're looking at routine wear items rather than structural problems—but always request the full MOT history and have any previous dangerous defects explained before you commit.

The 2016 Ford Mustang has a decent first-time pass rate (87.9%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

87.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

28%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.05

Over 7.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

25k

Middle half: 16k–37k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 87.9% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5.1 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 2,734 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 2,734 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 31.4%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 15.5%

Parking brake efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 9.5%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION

Suspension & steering 8%

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,734 Ford Mustang cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Ford Mustang

Based on MOT data from 2,734 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 28% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 19,029 Ford Mustang vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 21%

3,998

Blue 17.4%

3,320

Black 16.2%

3,079

Grey 12%

2,288

White 9.3%

1,764

Green 8.8%

1,668

Yellow 5.1%

969

Silver 5%

944

Orange 3.6%

688

Maroon 0.8%

144

Gold 0.5%

Purple 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Ford Mustang vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

24,953

typical

15,947

low mileage

36,808

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Ford Mustang vehicles fall between 15,947 and 36,808 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 15,947 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 15,947–36,808 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Ford Mustangs sit.

⚠ Over 49,690 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Ford Mustang — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Ford Mustangs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 2,361 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 93% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

7.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.05

Avg failures per vehicle

5.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ford Mustang: All Mustang years → Which year to buy? →

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Watch for defects — worth knowing