2006 Chrysler 300 C — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,753 MOT tests, the 2006 Chrysler 300 C recorded a 75.8% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), the 2006 300 C comes out 3.1pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 16.1% of all tests — 5.8 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), pins and bushes and track rod end — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 188 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2006 300 C fails 22.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 25.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.9 points.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.4pp more often than petrol ones (25.1% vs 22.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 16.1% | 283 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 181 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.0% | 176 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.4% | 95 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 58 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 54 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 188 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 123 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 106 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 90 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 86 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 85 |
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 | 35.4% | 620 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.4% | 568 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.8% | 435 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.6% | 238 |
| 5 | Steering | 9.7% | 170 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.0% | 157 |
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 | 50 | 22.0% |
| 30-60k | 171 | 18.1% |
| 60-90k | 384 | 20.3% |
| 90-120k | 443 | 26.0% |
| 120-150k | 351 | 27.9% |
| 150k+ | 352 | 25.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,119 | 25.1% |
| Petrol | 634 | 22.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 415 | 22.7% |
| 2022 | 399 | 24.6% |
| 2023 | 371 | 27.0% |
| 2024 | 305 | 22.0% |
| 2025 | 263 | 25.1% |
What to check before buying a 2006 300 C
On a 2006 300 C, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (16.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.0% 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.
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 Chrysler 300 Cs pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 1,753 2006 Chrysler 300 C MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Chrysler 300 C?
Brakes, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.3%).
Does the 2006 300 C get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.0% in the 0-30k band to 25.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,753 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.