2006 Daihatsu Charade — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,710 MOT tests, the 2006 Daihatsu Charade recorded a 73.2% pass rate. Against city cars of a similar age (28.8% fail rate), the 2006 Charade comes out 2.1pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 16.2% of all tests — 6.0 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, headlamp aim and component mounting prescribed areas — ball joint alone was recorded 149 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.1% once past 120-150k — 2.4× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 38.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.2% | 277 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 174 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 167 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.9% | 118 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.7% | 115 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 112 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 149 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 115 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 114 |
| 4 | Wipers | 103 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 69 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 66 |
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 | 38.1% | 652 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.7% | 474 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.5% | 436 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.8% | 270 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 234 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.2% | 208 |
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 | 187 | 14.4% |
| 30-60k | 637 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 601 | 30.9% |
| 90-120k | 201 | 32.3% |
| 120-150k | 57 | 35.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 417 | 24.0% |
| 2022 | 384 | 26.8% |
| 2023 | 339 | 26.0% |
| 2024 | 306 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 264 | 31.4% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Charade
On a 2006 Charade, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (16.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.8% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Daihatsu Charades pass their MOT?
73.2% of the 1,710 2006 Daihatsu Charade MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Daihatsu Charade?
Suspension, recorded in 16.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.2%).
Does the 2006 Charade get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.4% in the 0-30k band to 35.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,710 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.