2006 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 322,308 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Ford Fiesta, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 71.8% was in line with the average for superminis of a similar age (71.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 33.4% in the 150k+ group versus 13.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.5% | 59,547 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.7% | 44,243 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.7% | 34,509 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.7% | 21,606 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.9% | 19,094 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 17,483 |
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 | 26,779 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 25,717 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 22,282 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 18,345 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 16,498 |
| 6 | Wipers | 15,071 |
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 | 35.5% | 114,314 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.3% | 107,367 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.2% | 90,971 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.0% | 61,273 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.5% | 53,210 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.6% | 40,552 |
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 | 6,506 | 13.5% |
| 30-60k | 45,426 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 99,914 | 26.9% |
| 90-120k | 103,431 | 30.8% |
| 120-150k | 49,064 | 32.7% |
| 150k+ | 17,627 | 33.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 283,452 | 28.0% |
| Diesel | 38,853 | 30.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 82,817 | 27.5% |
| 2022 | 74,123 | 27.8% |
| 2023 | 64,981 | 28.3% |
| 2024 | 55,157 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 45,230 | 29.2% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Fiesta
Before buying a 2006 Ford Fiesta, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 18.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (18.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.7% 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.
- Brakes (10.7% 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 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
71.8% of the 322,308 2006 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Ford Fiesta?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.5% of tests, followed by suspension (13.7%).
Does the 2006 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.5% in the 0-30k band to 33.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 322,308 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.