2006 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 322,338 MOT tests, the 2006 Ford Fiesta recorded a 71.8% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail at 28.4%, so the 2006 Fiesta sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.5% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and stop lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 26,784 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.4% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.3pp more often than petrol ones (30.3% vs 28.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.5% | 59,558 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.7% | 44,251 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.7% | 34,515 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.7% | 21,607 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.9% | 19,099 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 17,489 |
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 | 26,784 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 25,722 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 22,286 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 18,350 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 16,499 |
| 6 | Wipers | 15,072 |
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% | 114,326 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.3% | 107,382 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.2% | 90,974 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.0% | 61,283 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.5% | 53,217 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.6% | 40,563 |
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 | 103,453 | 30.8% |
| 120-150k | 49,069 | 32.7% |
| 150k+ | 17,630 | 33.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 283,476 | 28.0% |
| Diesel | 38,859 | 30.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 82,824 | 27.5% |
| 2022 | 74,130 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 64,988 | 28.3% |
| 2024 | 55,162 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 45,234 | 29.2% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Fiesta
On a 2006 Fiesta, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 322,338 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 322,338 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.