2006 Daihatsu Copen — MOT failures & pass rate
947 MOT tests on the 2006 Daihatsu Copen are in this dataset, and 71.3% of them passed. That is 1.4 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.3%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 14.8% of tests against 8.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 232 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 37.3% once past 90-120k — 2.0× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.1% in 2021 to 26.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.8% | 140 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 83 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 78 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 73 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.9% | 56 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.0% | 47 |
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 | 232 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 84 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 50 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 46 |
| 5 | Wipers | 44 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 40 |
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 | 26.7% | 253 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.0% | 218 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.8% | 206 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.9% | 141 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.9% | 65 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 55 |
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 | 110 | 18.2% |
| 30-60k | 401 | 26.7% |
| 60-90k | 318 | 32.1% |
| 90-120k | 102 | 37.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 230 | 29.1% |
| 2022 | 201 | 28.9% |
| 2023 | 201 | 30.3% |
| 2024 | 159 | 27.7% |
| 2025 | 156 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Copen
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 14.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (14.8% 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 (8.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (8.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Copens pass their MOT?
71.3% of the 947 2006 Daihatsu Copen MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Daihatsu Copen?
Suspension, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.8%).
Does the 2006 Copen get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.2% in the 0-30k band to 37.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 947 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.