Used car guide

2016 Volkswagen up!: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Volkswagen up!s, from 12,836 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

12,836MOT tests in 2025
76%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
4,900typical miles a year
1.5×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Volkswagen up!s than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.5× usual
    Volkswagen up!
    9.3% All 2016 cars
    6.1%
    Rough price £100–£300

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

  • Braking performance2.2× usual
    Volkswagen up!
    5.4% All 2016 cars
    2.5%
    Rough price £100–£350

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Position lamp2.7× usual
    Volkswagen up!
    3.8% All 2016 cars
    1.4%
    Rough price £10–£80

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

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)5× usual
    Volkswagen up!
    2.5% All 2016 cars
    0.5%
    Rough price £100–£500

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

Better than most

Brake pads: 4.7% here, against 10.2% of all 2016 cars. Shock absorbers: 1.2% here, against 4.3% of all 2016 cars.

By area

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

  • Tyres
    26% 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
    18% 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.

  • Suspension
    15% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    12% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    4% 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.

Looking at a Volkswagen up!?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20198,268Tyres 25%
201812,859Tyres 27%
201713,210Tyres 26%
201516,273Tyres 28%
201421,114Tyres 29%
201320,211Tyres 28%
201213,833Tyres 29%

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