Used car guide

2016 Vauxhall Antara: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Vauxhall Antaras, from 791 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

791MOT tests in 2025
56%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
7,800typical miles a year
3.2×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Vauxhall Antaras than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints3.2× usual
    Vauxhall Antara
    19.5% All 2016 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.4%, against 1.1% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Number plate lights4.2× usual
    Vauxhall Antara
    13.4% All 2016 cars
    3.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 0.9% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Sidelights7.5× usual
    Vauxhall Antara
    10.5% All 2016 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.7%, against 1.2% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Brake lights5.6× usual
    Vauxhall Antara
    10.1% All 2016 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.9%, against 1.4% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Engine oil leaks3.9× usual
    Vauxhall Antara
    10.9% All 2016 cars
    2.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.1% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

By area

The share of 2016 Vauxhall Antara MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    38% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    38% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    35% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    32% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    12% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Vauxhall Antara?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20152,026Suspension 43%
20142,478Suspension 45%
20136,131Suspension 44%
20125,116Suspension 49%
2011697Suspension 55%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2016 Vauxhall Antaras registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score