2006 Ford Mustang — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Ford Mustang passed 85.6% of its 1,448 recorded MOT tests. That is 7.7 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 22.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.3% of tests against 6.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, individual direction indicators and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 53 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.4% once past 150k — 4.3× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 18.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.7% in 2021 to 14.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 135 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.0% | 87 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 64 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 45 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.3% | 33 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.9% | 27 |
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 | 53 |
| 2 | Individual direction indicators | 49 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 48 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 42 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 37 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 37 |
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 | 18.3% | 265 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.0% | 202 |
| 3 | Tyres | 12.4% | 180 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.3% | 91 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 88 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 71 |
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 | 202 | 5.0% |
| 30-60k | 419 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 397 | 15.1% |
| 90-120k | 272 | 16.2% |
| 120-150k | 114 | 23.7% |
| 150k+ | 42 | 21.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 216 | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 315 | 14.0% |
| 2023 | 319 | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 313 | 12.8% |
| 2025 | 285 | 14.0% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Mustang
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.0% 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.
- Suspension (4.4% 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.
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 Mustangs pass their MOT?
85.6% of the 1,448 2006 Ford Mustang MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Ford Mustang?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by brakes (6.0%).
Does the 2006 Mustang get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.0% in the 0-30k band to 21.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,448 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.