Used car guide

2016 Vauxhall Meriva: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Vauxhall Merivas, from 6,447 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

6,447MOT tests in 2025
71%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
5,700typical miles a year
3.6×the usual rate for coil springs

What stands out

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

  • Coil springs3.6× usual
    Vauxhall Meriva
    14.7% All 2016 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 12.5%, against 2.5% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Exhaust system3.2× usual
    Vauxhall Meriva
    6.4% All 2016 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0.5% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 0.9% here, against 4.3% of all 2016 cars. Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.7% here, against 6.1% of all 2016 cars.

By area

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

  • Tyres
    31% 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.

  • Suspension
    21% 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.

  • Brakes
    19% 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.

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

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    7% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% 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 Meriva?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20174,448Tyres 31%
20158,087Tyres 32%
20147,400Tyres 33%
20137,399Suspension 38%
20128,169Suspension 38%
201112,988Suspension 44%
20108,278Suspension 47%
20094,295Suspension 55%
20084,173Suspension 57%
20073,637Brakes 55%
20062,861Suspension 56%
20051,700Brakes 56%
20041,220Suspension 60%

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