2006 Daihatsu Sirion — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,139 MOT tests, the 2006 Daihatsu Sirion recorded a 74.8% pass rate. That is 3.7 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.9%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (14.6%) and lighting & signalling (12.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, headlamp and wipers — ball joint alone was recorded 493 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.6% in the 0-30k band and 36.5% in the 150k+ band, a 25.9-point spread — more than double.
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 — 23.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.6% | 750 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 642 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 389 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.7% | 291 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.5% | 231 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 225 |
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 | 493 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 296 |
| 3 | Wipers | 275 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 272 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 191 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 176 |
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% | 1,960 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.1% | 1,601 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.5% | 1,364 |
| 4 | Other defects | 19.1% | 979 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 864 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.0% | 721 |
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 | 265 | 10.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,451 | 19.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,844 | 25.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,109 | 32.6% |
| 120-150k | 351 | 32.5% |
| 150k+ | 115 | 36.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,232 | 23.1% |
| 2022 | 1,146 | 24.6% |
| 2023 | 1,042 | 25.7% |
| 2024 | 925 | 26.9% |
| 2025 | 794 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Sirion
On a 2006 Sirion, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (14.6% 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 (12.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.6% 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 Daihatsu Sirions pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 5,139 2006 Daihatsu Sirion MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Daihatsu Sirion?
Suspension, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.5%).
Does the 2006 Sirion get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.6% in the 0-30k band to 36.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,139 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.