Model Reports 8 min read Updated 12 Jul 2026

Isuzu D-Max 2016: reliability & common MOT faults

Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2016 Isuzu D-Max include Rear fog lamp (~15.0× peers) and Wheel bearings (front) (~10.4× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (1,361 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.

1,361 failed first-attempt tests · 4,027 first tests (test year 2025)

Standout pattern: Rear fog lamp — about 15.0× more often than on similar peer cars.

Key takeaways before you buy

Rear fog lamp: about 15.0× more often than similar cars
Wheel bearings (front): about 10.4× more often than similar cars
Exhaust system: about 7.4× more often than similar cars

Common faults

These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).

Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.

Based on 1,361 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.

Rear fog lamp

This failure pattern appears about 15.0× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 182 failed first-attempt tests; 13.4% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 182 failures · ×15.0 vs similar cars · 13.4% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Wheel bearings (front)

This failure pattern appears about 10.4× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 103 failed first-attempt tests; 7.6% of failed tests for this model year.

Front · 103 failures · ×10.4 vs similar cars · 7.6% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Exhaust system

This failure pattern appears about 7.4× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 103 failed first-attempt tests; 7.6% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 103 failures · ×7.4 vs similar cars · 7.6% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

#	Fault pattern	Location	Failures	vs similar cars	Share of fails	Confidence
1	Pins and bushes (front) Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes	Front	63	×25.9	4.6%	Likely common fault pattern
2	Rear fog lamp Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Front and rear fog lamps > Rear fog lamp > Rear fog lamp	Any	182	×15.0	13.4%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
3	Rigid brake pipes Brakes > Rigid brake pipes	Any	32	×13.9	2.4%	Likely common fault pattern
4	Exhaust system (rear) Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system	Rear	85	×12.3	6.2%	Likely common fault pattern
5	Rear fog lamp (rear) Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Front and rear fog lamps > Rear fog lamp > Rear fog lamp	Rear	84	×10.6	6.2%	Likely common fault pattern
6	Wheel bearings (front) Suspension > Wheel bearings	Front	103	×10.4	7.6%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
7	Rigid brake pipes (rear) Brakes > Rigid brake pipes	Rear	82	×9.6	6.0%	Likely common fault pattern
8	Reversing lamps Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Reversing lamps > Reversing lamps	Any	37	×8.2	2.7%	Likely common fault pattern
9	Rigid brake pipes (front) Brakes > Rigid brake pipes	Front	55	×7.9	4.0%	Likely common fault pattern
10	Emissions not tested Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Compression ignition > Emissions not tested	Any	43	×7.8	3.2%	Likely common fault pattern

Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).

Advisories

Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.

#	Advisory pattern	Location	Notes	vs similar cars	Share	Confidence
1	Wheel bearings (front) Suspension > Wheel bearings	Front	292	×46.7	21.5%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
2	Pins and bushes (front) Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes	Front	98	×30.8	7.2%	Likely common fault pattern
3	Chassis condition Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition	Any	21	×14.0	1.5%	Elevated vs peers
4	Rigid brake pipes Brakes > Rigid brake pipes	Any	81	×9.5	6.0%	Likely common fault pattern
5	Flexible brake hoses (front) Brakes > Flexible brake hoses	Front	21	×9.0	1.5%	Elevated vs peers
6	Rigid brake pipes (rear) Brakes > Rigid brake pipes	Rear	144	×6.2	10.6%	Likely common fault pattern
7	Rigid brake pipes (front) Brakes > Rigid brake pipes	Front	123	×6.2	9.0%	Likely common fault pattern
8	Ball joint (front) Suspension > Suspension arms > Ball joint	Front	99	×3.9	7.3%	Possible elevated fault

FAQs

Is the 2016 Isuzu D-Max reliable?

We do not show a single reliability score for the 2016 Isuzu D-Max on this page. Among 1,361 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Rear fog lamp appears more often than on similar peer cars (about 15.0× more often than peers; 182 observed failures; 13.4% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.

What common MOT faults stand out on the Isuzu D-Max 2016?

Among failed first-attempt tests we surface patterns that appear more often than on similar peer cars. Top example: Rear fog lamp (about 15.0× more often than peers; 182 observed failures; 13.4% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.

Why does Rear fog lamp stand out?

Rear fog lamp shows up more often than on similar peer cars (about 15.0× more often than peers; 182 observed failures; 13.4% of failed tests). That does not prove a causal design fault — age, mileage, and usage still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer TSB.

What are common problems with the 2016 Isuzu D-Max?

Common MOT problem areas for the 2016 Isuzu D-Max include Rear fog lamp, Wheel bearings (front), Exhaust system. These are elevated versus similar peer cars where lift clears our floors — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.

How should I read advisories vs fails?

Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that look elevated versus peers among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.

What does this Isuzu D-Max 2016 MOT report cover?

This page highlights elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2016 Isuzu D-Max (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are ranked against similar age and mileage peers. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer TSB list.

Does this include engine and gearbox problems?

No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.

What is PRS, and why does it count as a fail?

PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

About this data

Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.

PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).

Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.

Limitations.

MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.

Display rules config: 1

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Most reliable Isuzu models

See brand-wide MOT rankings and year guidance for Isuzu (separate from this model-year report).