2006 Fiat Multipla — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Fiat Multipla passed 63.2% of its 661 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.2% fail rate), the 2006 Multipla comes out 9.6pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 20.9% of tests against 16.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, track rod end and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 56 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2006 Multipla fails 37.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 37.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.7 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 41.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 35.4% in 2021 to 32.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.9% | 138 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 112 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.7% | 84 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 78 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.7% | 51 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 46 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 56 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 46 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 45 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 39 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 37 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 36 |
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 | 41.1% | 272 |
| 2 | Tyres | 33.9% | 224 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.6% | 189 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.6% | 123 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 115 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.4% | 95 |
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 | 35 | 37.1% |
| 30-60k | 123 | 33.3% |
| 60-90k | 160 | 35.6% |
| 90-120k | 170 | 36.5% |
| 120-150k | 134 | 41.0% |
| 150k+ | 37 | 37.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 585 | 36.6% |
| Petrol | 76 | 38.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 215 | 35.4% |
| 2022 | 171 | 37.4% |
| 2023 | 131 | 39.7% |
| 2024 | 85 | 37.6% |
| 2025 | 59 | 32.2% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Multipla
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 20.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (20.9% 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 (16.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.7% 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 Fiat Multiplas pass their MOT?
63.2% of the 661 2006 Fiat Multipla MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 36.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Fiat Multipla?
Suspension, recorded in 20.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.9%).
Does the 2006 Multipla get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 37.1% in the 0-30k band to 37.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 661 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.