2006 Ford Freda — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Ford Freda passed 66.5% of its 514 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.2% fail rate), the 2006 Freda comes out 6.2pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (20.4%) and lighting & signalling (18.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 154 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.2% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 32.6% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.3% in 2021 to 31.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.4% | 105 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.7% | 96 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.8% | 71 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.6% | 39 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.4% | 38 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.2% | 32 |
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 | 154 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 48 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 41 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 39 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 36 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 35 |
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 | 37.2% | 191 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.2% | 155 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 23.0% | 118 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.2% | 114 |
| 5 | Tyres | 18.3% | 94 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 87 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 33 | 18.2% |
| 90-120k | 85 | 35.3% |
| 120-150k | 136 | 37.5% |
| 150k+ | 258 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 144 | 33.3% |
| 2022 | 137 | 39.4% |
| 2023 | 113 | 31.9% |
| 2024 | 63 | 25.4% |
| 2025 | 57 | 31.6% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Freda
On a 2006 Freda, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (20.4% 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 (18.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.8% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Fredas pass their MOT?
66.5% of the 514 2006 Ford Freda MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Ford Freda?
Suspension, recorded in 20.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.7%).
Does the 2006 Freda get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.2% in the 60-90k band to 32.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 514 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.