Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Volkswagen Up?

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 Volkswagen Up?

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 Volkswagen Up?

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 Volkswagen Up reliable?

Based on MOT data from 12,928 vehicles, the 2016 Volkswagen Up has a first-time MOT pass rate of 86%, 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 Volkswagen Up?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Volkswagen Up are: Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (47.9% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (46% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (29.4% 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 Volkswagen Up?

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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Volkswagen Up (2016)

12,928 real MOT outcomes analysed • 86% first-time pass rate

2016 Volkswagen Up

CarHunch analysed 12,928 real MOT records for the 2016 Volkswagen Up. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 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.

The 2016 Volkswagen Up passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (86%) — 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

86%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

18.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.29

Over 8.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

30k

Middle half: 20k–42k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 86% 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 6.7 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 12,928 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 12,928 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 47.9%

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Nearside 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 16.4%

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

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

Other issues 11.9%

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread

Lighting 7.5%

Vehicles internal headlight adjuster altered to recheck lights

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

Suspension & steering 6.7%

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Suspension arm 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.

Wipers & washers 5.9%

Nearside 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 12,928 Volkswagen Up cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Volkswagen Up

Based on MOT data from 12,928 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 18.8% 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%)	12,907	86%	1.29

Colour Breakdown

Based on 125,934 Volkswagen Up vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 27.6%

34,729

Red 25.2%

31,765

Black 17.6%

22,144

Blue 14.9%

18,756

Silver 12.5%

15,728

Yellow 1%

1,298

Orange 0.7%

921

Grey 0.2%

291

Purple 0.2%

204

Gold 0.1%

Turquoise 0%

Brown 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Volkswagen Up 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.

30,232

typical

19,960

low mileage

42,191

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Volkswagen Up vehicles fall between 19,960 and 42,191 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 19,960 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.

✓ 19,960–42,191 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Volkswagen Ups sit.

⚠ Over 56,957 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Volkswagen Up — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Volkswagen Ups are 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.
* 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

8.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.29

Avg failures per vehicle

6.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Volkswagen Up: All Up years → Which year to buy? →

2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Or browse all models: Volkswagen →

Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Volkswagen Up stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?