2006 Audi A6 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Audi A6 passed 78.4% of its 24,746 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 23.6% of the time, so this is 2.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests against 9.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,742 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.6% in the 30-60k band and 22.5% in the 150k+ band, a 12.9-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 20.5% of the time against 21.8% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 3,393 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.2% | 2,265 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.3% | 1,804 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.8% | 1,194 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 1,024 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 852 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 1,742 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 1,134 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,059 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 866 |
| 5 | Linkage pins and bushes | 804 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 753 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 36.1% | 8,928 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.1% | 7,444 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.0% | 6,182 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.4% | 4,794 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.4% | 2,827 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.8% | 2,671 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 177 | 9.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,000 | 17.4% |
| 90-120k | 3,156 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 5,857 | 21.3% |
| 150k+ | 14,524 | 22.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 21,968 | 21.8% |
| Petrol | 2,777 | 20.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,755 | 20.9% |
| 2022 | 6,036 | 21.6% |
| 2023 | 5,026 | 21.6% |
| 2024 | 3,966 | 22.5% |
| 2025 | 2,963 | 21.9% |
What to check before buying a 2006 A6
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (7.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2006 Audi A6s pass their MOT?
78.4% of the 24,746 2006 Audi A6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Audi A6?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by suspension (9.2%).
Does the 2006 A6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 30-60k band to 22.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,746 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.