2006 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 46,694 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Ford Transit, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 69.6% was in line with the average for vans of a similar age (70.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 30.8% in the 150k+ group versus 24.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.1% | 9,389 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.5% | 8,640 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 6,285 |
| 4 | Brakes | 12.2% | 5,687 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.5% | 3,513 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 2,287 |
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 | 13,487 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 6,542 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 6,368 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 3,905 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,662 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 3,103 |
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 | 42.4% | 19,801 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.9% | 16,787 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.5% | 11,899 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 23.0% | 10,735 |
| 5 | Tyres | 20.3% | 9,503 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 7,863 |
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 | 1,043 | 24.6% |
| 30-60k | 3,015 | 21.4% |
| 60-90k | 5,430 | 29.6% |
| 90-120k | 8,798 | 31.8% |
| 120-150k | 10,779 | 31.6% |
| 150k+ | 16,784 | 30.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 46,163 | 30.4% |
| Petrol | 526 | 24.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,128 | 32.1% |
| 2022 | 11,487 | 31.0% |
| 2023 | 8,780 | 29.3% |
| 2024 | 6,927 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 5,372 | 27.6% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Transit
Before buying a 2006 Ford Transit, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 20.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (20.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (18.5% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.5% 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 Transits pass their MOT?
69.6% of the 46,694 2006 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.1% of tests, followed by suspension (18.5%).
Does the 2006 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.6% in the 0-30k band to 30.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 46,694 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.