Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Vauxhall Viva?

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 Vauxhall Viva?

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 Vauxhall Viva?

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.

Is the 2016 Vauxhall Viva reliable?

Based on MOT data from 13,939 vehicles, the 2016 Vauxhall Viva 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 Vauxhall Viva?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Vauxhall Viva are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (33.1% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (30.9% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (30.5% 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 Vauxhall Viva?

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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Vauxhall Viva (2016)

13,939 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87.9% first-time pass rate

2016 Vauxhall Viva

CarHunch analysed 13,939 real MOT records for the 2016 Vauxhall Viva. 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 Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 Vauxhall Viva is more reliable than average, with an 87.9% first-time pass rate that sits well above the UK average of 80%. Nearly one in five vehicles (19.8%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is worth taking seriously during your pre-purchase inspection.

These cars are running relatively low mileage for their age—a median of just under 30,000 miles—which suggests they're mostly urban runabouts rather than motorway miles. The average 1.1 failures and 6.6 advisories per test indicate routine wear items rather than structural problems, so budget for regular maintenance but don't expect major surprises; get a full inspection report before purchase and pay particular attention to any history of braking or suspension work.

The 2016 Vauxhall Viva passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (87.9%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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)

19.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.1

Over 8.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

30k

Middle half: 20k–41k

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 6.6 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 13,939 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 13,939 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 33.1%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

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

Brake wear 25.9%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Exhaust & emissions 16.5%

Front Exhaust mounting defective

Other issues 14.9%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Items removed from driver's view prior to test · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · …

Wipers & washers 7.7%

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively · Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively · Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

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 13,939 Vauxhall Viva cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Vauxhall Viva

Based on MOT data from 13,939 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.8% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	13,937	87.9%	1.1

Colour Breakdown

Based on 94,031 Vauxhall Viva vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 23.5%

22,102

Red 18.3%

17,209

White 14.5%

13,645

Green 13%

12,210

Silver 7.1%

6,701

Gold 6.8%

6,428

Grey 6.1%

5,704

Black 5.6%

5,294

Yellow 1.6%

1,487

Purple 1.6%

1,484

Brown 1.3%

1,178

Maroon 0.6%

589

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Vauxhall Viva 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.

29,571

typical

20,050

low mileage

41,067

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Vauxhall Viva vehicles fall between 20,050 and 41,067 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 20,050 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.

✓ 20,050–41,067 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Vauxhall Vivas sit.

⚠ Over 55,440 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Vauxhall Viva — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Vauxhall Vivas are still on the road.

Strong survival — 13,320 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 97% 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

8.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.1

Avg failures per vehicle

6.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Vauxhall Viva: All Viva years → Which year to buy? →

2015 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Vauxhall →

Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Vauxhall Viva stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?