Model Reports 8 min read Updated 12 Jul 2026

Volkswagen Up 2016: reliability & common MOT faults

Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2016 Volkswagen Up include Fuel cap/sealing device (~32.4× peers) and Position lamp (front) (~5.5× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (2,967 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.

2,967 failed first-attempt tests · 12,502 first tests (test year 2025)

Standout pattern: Fuel cap/sealing device — about 32.4× more often than on similar peer cars.

Key takeaways before you buy

  • Fuel cap/sealing device: about 32.4× more often than similar cars
  • Position lamp (front): about 5.5× more often than similar cars
  • Catalyst emissions: about 5.1× 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 2,967 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.

Fuel cap/sealing device

This failure pattern appears about 32.4× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 223 failed first-attempt tests; 7.5% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 223 failures · ×32.4 vs similar cars · 7.5% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Position lamp (front)

This failure pattern appears about 5.5× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 445 failed first-attempt tests; 15.0% of failed tests for this model year.

Front · 445 failures · ×5.5 vs similar cars · 15.0% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Catalyst emissions

This failure pattern appears about 5.1× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 317 failed first-attempt tests; 10.7% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 317 failures · ×5.1 vs similar cars · 10.7% 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 Fuel cap/sealing device
Body, chassis, structure > Fuel system > Fuel cap/sealing device
 Any 223 ×32.4 7.5% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
2 Service brake imbalance (rear)
Brakes > Brake performance > Service Brake Efficiency (sp) > Rbt (sp) > Service brake imbalance
 Rear 65 ×5.6 2.2% Likely common fault pattern
3 Position lamp (front)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Position lamps > Position lamp
 Front 445 ×5.5 15.0% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
4 Catalyst emissions
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Spark ignition > Catalyst emissions
 Any 317 ×5.1 10.7% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
5 Parking brake control — Lever
Brakes > Parking brake control > Lever
 Any 61 ×3.5 2.1% Likely common fault pattern
6 Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Pins and bushes
 Front 358 ×3.0 12.1% Likely common fault pattern
7 Service brake performance (rear)
Brakes > Brake performance > Service brake performance > Rbt > Service brake performance
 Rear 154 ×3.0 5.2% 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 Service brake performance (rear)
Brakes > Brake performance > Service brake performance > Rbt > Service brake performance
 Rear 102 ×2.3 3.4% Likely common fault pattern
2 Service brake performance (front)
Brakes > Brake performance > Service brake performance > Rbt > Service brake performance
 Front 68 ×2.1 2.3% Elevated vs peers

FAQs

We do not show a single reliability score for the 2016 Volkswagen Up on this page. Among 2,967 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Fuel cap/sealing device appears more often than on similar peer cars (about 32.4× more often than peers; 223 observed failures; 7.5% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.
Among failed first-attempt tests we surface patterns that appear more often than on similar peer cars. Top example: Fuel cap/sealing device (about 32.4× more often than peers; 223 observed failures; 7.5% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Fuel cap/sealing device shows up more often than on similar peer cars (about 32.4× more often than peers; 223 observed failures; 7.5% 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.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2016 Volkswagen Up include Fuel cap/sealing device, Position lamp (front), Catalyst emissions. These are elevated versus similar peer cars where lift clears our floors — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.
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.
This page highlights elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2016 Volkswagen Up (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.
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.
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 Volkswagen models

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