2006 Chevrolet Lacetti — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Chevrolet Lacetti passed 65.5% of its 2,770 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), the 2006 Lacetti comes out 7.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.4%) and suspension (17.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 414 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 39.3% once past 150k — 2.7× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.7% in 2021 to 31.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 511 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.5% | 486 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.3% | 424 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.2% | 283 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 8.0% | 221 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 176 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 414 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 222 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 208 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 200 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 191 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 182 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 35.7% | 989 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.3% | 951 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 32.1% | 889 |
| 4 | Tyres | 28.2% | 780 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.3% | 535 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.8% | 520 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 102 | 14.7% |
| 30-60k | 726 | 30.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,129 | 35.6% |
| 90-120k | 610 | 38.2% |
| 120-150k | 142 | 40.8% |
| 150k+ | 61 | 39.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 944 | 33.7% |
| 2022 | 704 | 35.8% |
| 2023 | 522 | 36.6% |
| 2024 | 350 | 32.9% |
| 2025 | 250 | 31.6% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Lacetti
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.5% 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.
- Brakes (15.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 Chevrolet Lacettis pass their MOT?
65.5% of the 2,770 2006 Chevrolet Lacetti MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Chevrolet Lacetti?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.4% of tests, followed by suspension (17.5%).
Does the 2006 Lacetti get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.7% in the 0-30k band to 39.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,770 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.