Volkswagen Up (2016)
2016 Volkswagen Up
CarHunch analysed 12,928 real MOT records for the 2016 Volkswagen Up. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2016 Volkswagen Up is more reliable than average, with an 86% first-time pass rate that beats the UK average of 80%, though nearly 1 in 5 owners have encountered a dangerous defect at some point. This suggests solid build quality for the class, though buyers should be aware that one in five is a meaningful proportion worth factoring into purchase decisions.
At just over 30,000 miles median mileage for an eight-year-old car, these Ups have been driven gently, which partly explains the good pass rates. With an average of 1.29 failures and 6.7 advisories per test, most issues are minor wear-and-tear rather than systemic faults—if you're buying one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the electrical and suspension components that typically appear in advisories, as these are the recurring niggles owners report.
What to check before buying a 2016 Volkswagen Up
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.
- 📄 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 Up
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (100%) | 12,907 | 86% | 1.29 |
| Electric (0%) | 20 | 91.1% | 0.7 |
| Other (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2016 Volkswagen Up 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 Up vehicles fall between 19,960 and 42,191 miles.
2016 Volkswagen Up — Still on the Road
Strong survival — 12,505 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% 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 Up
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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47.9%
Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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46%
Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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29.4%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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27.2%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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24.3%
Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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22.4%
Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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16.4%
Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
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13.7%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Volkswagen Up?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.