Volkswagen Passat (2016)
2016 Volkswagen Passat
CarHunch analysed 17,426 real MOT records for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2016 Passat passes its MOT first time in 84% of cases, which is 4 percentage points above the UK average—a solid result that suggests decent baseline reliability. However, nearly a third of these vehicles (32.3%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a material buyer concern and suggests you should factor in the cost of potential safety-critical repairs.
At 75,000 miles median mileage for an 8-year-old car, these Passats are running slightly below typical wear, yet they're still averaging 1.19 failures per MOT—above what you'd hope for in a car this age. The high advisory count of 8.3 per vehicle points to accumulated wear on trim items and minor systems; when shopping for one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brakes, suspension, and engine management to catch developing issues early.
What to check before buying a 2016 Volkswagen Passat
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 32.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Volkswagen Passat
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (99%) | 17,212 | 83.9% | 1.19 |
| Hybrid Electric (Clean) (1%) | 177 | 87.8% | 1.05 |
| Petrol (0%) | 36 | 90.1% | 0.25 |
| Other (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2016 Volkswagen Passat vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2016 Volkswagen Passat vehicles fall between 55,791 and 99,658 miles.
2016 Volkswagen Passat — Still on the Road
Strong survival — 14,204 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 86% 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.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2016 Volkswagen Passat
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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45.5%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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44.2%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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26.3%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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22.6%
Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
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20.4%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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19.9%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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18.8%
Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
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16.8%
Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Volkswagen Passat?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.