2006 Ford Ka — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 27,460 MOT tests, the 2006 Ford Ka recorded a 66.2% pass rate. Against city cars of a similar age (28.6% fail rate), the 2006 Ka comes out 5.2pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 23.8% of all tests — 8.8 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, pins and bushes and coil spring — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 6,647 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 43.6% versus 22.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 42.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.7% in 2021 to 33.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 23.8% | 6,529 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 4,124 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.2% | 2,248 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.8% | 2,137 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.6% | 1,813 |
| 6 | Brakes | 5.5% | 1,507 |
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 | 6,647 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 2,512 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 2,101 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 2,002 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 1,823 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,436 |
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 | 42.4% | 11,651 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.0% | 7,415 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.5% | 5,362 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.5% | 4,244 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.4% | 4,227 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 2,527 |
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 | 3,941 | 22.0% |
| 30-60k | 12,620 | 32.5% |
| 60-90k | 8,693 | 39.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,972 | 40.7% |
| 120-150k | 188 | 43.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,344 | 34.7% |
| 2022 | 6,805 | 33.8% |
| 2023 | 5,032 | 33.1% |
| 2024 | 3,594 | 33.2% |
| 2025 | 2,685 | 33.1% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Ka
On a 2006 Ka, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 23.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (23.8% 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 (15.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.2% 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 Kas pass their MOT?
66.2% of the 27,460 2006 Ford Ka MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Ford Ka?
Suspension, recorded in 23.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.0%).
Does the 2006 Ka get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.0% in the 0-30k band to 43.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,460 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.