Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Nissan Cabstar?

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 Nissan Cabstar?

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 Nissan Cabstar?

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 Nissan Cabstar vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

58% 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 Nissan Cabstar reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,084 vehicles, the 2016 Nissan Cabstar has a first-time MOT pass rate of 69.3%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 Nissan Cabstar?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Nissan Cabstar are: Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (48.9% of vehicles), Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (40.9% of vehicles), Parking brake efficiency below requirements (39.4% 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 Nissan Cabstar?

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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Nissan Cabstar (2016)

1,084 real MOT outcomes analysed • 69.3% first-time pass rate

2016 Nissan Cabstar

CarHunch analysed 1,084 real MOT records for the 2016 Nissan Cabstar. 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 Nissan Cabstar is a significantly less reliable proposition than the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 69.1% versus the national benchmark of 80%. More concerning, 57.6% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is exceptionally high and suggests structural or critical safety issues are commonplace in this cohort.

At an average mileage of 59,499 miles for an eight-year-old van, these Cabstars are running relatively light, yet they're still accumulating an average of 3.13 failures and 19.8 advisories per test—indicating wear and deterioration happening faster than typical. If you're considering one, factor in the probability of significant repair bills: budget for pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with Cabstar weak points, and expect regular maintenance costs to be higher than comparable vans.

The 2016 Nissan Cabstar has a below-average first-time pass rate (69.3% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

69.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

57.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.13

Over 9.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

55k

Middle half: 39k–75k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 19.8 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 1,084 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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,084 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 48.9%

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction

Brake wear 39.4%

Parking brake efficiency below requirements · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Tyre wear 37%

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

Suspension & steering 32.5%

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play · Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · …

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

Lighting 30.5%

Nearside Side repeater lens defective which has no effect on emitted light

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

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 1,084 Nissan Cabstar cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Nissan Cabstar

Based on MOT data from 1,084 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 57.6% 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 28,350 Nissan Cabstar vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 53.5%

15,164

Blue 20.7%

5,869

Red 15.5%

4,404

Silver 5.9%

1,662

Grey 2%

557

Green 1%

275

Yellow 0.6%

166

Black 0.5%

136

Orange 0.2%

Maroon 0.1%

Cream 0.1%

Beige 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Nissan Cabstar 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.

54,571

typical

38,964

low mileage

74,688

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Nissan Cabstar vehicles fall between 38,964 and 74,688 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 38,964 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.

✓ 38,964–74,688 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Nissan Cabstars sit.

⚠ Over 100,828 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Nissan Cabstar — Still on the Road

Most 2016 Nissan Cabstars are still being driven.

Strong survival — 890 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 88% 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

9.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.13

Avg failures per vehicle

19.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Nissan Cabstar: All Cabstar years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Nissan Cabstar stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on