The picture
316: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 13,993 MOT tests, the 316 returns 74.5% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is tyre tread under the limit. Windscreen damage and a lamp out round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 96,400, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
503 occurrences · 3.6% of tests
- 02
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
422 occurrences · 3.0% of tests
- 03
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
303 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
- 04
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
241 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 05
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
234 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 06
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
234 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 07
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
213 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 08
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
201 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 09
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
195 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 10
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
192 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£100–£185
If every one of this 316's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Buying or keeping a 316?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 316 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.