2006 Honda Accord — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 21,731 MOT tests, the 2006 Honda Accord recorded a 74.3% pass rate. Against large family cars of a similar age (27.4% fail rate), the 2006 Accord comes out 1.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.6% of tests against 12.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,301 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.1% in the 0-30k band and 29.1% in the 150k+ band, a 16.0-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 23.7% fail against 27.9% for diesel, a 4.2-point gap across 21,731 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.6% | 4,255 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.2% | 2,656 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.5% | 2,055 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.7% | 1,246 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 1,167 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 776 |
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 | 2,301 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 1,878 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,808 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1,350 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 1,066 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 779 |
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 | 39.7% | 8,628 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.1% | 6,099 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.3% | 5,923 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.0% | 4,568 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.0% | 2,614 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 2,312 |
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 | 107 | 13.1% |
| 30-60k | 717 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,748 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 4,838 | 23.7% |
| 120-150k | 5,222 | 27.1% |
| 150k+ | 8,063 | 29.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 11,188 | 23.7% |
| Diesel | 10,543 | 27.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,846 | 25.2% |
| 2022 | 5,056 | 25.8% |
| 2023 | 4,301 | 25.5% |
| 2024 | 3,582 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 2,946 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Accord
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.2% 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 (9.5% 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 Honda Accords pass their MOT?
74.3% of the 21,731 2006 Honda Accord MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Honda Accord?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.6% of tests, followed by suspension (12.2%).
Does the 2006 Accord get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.1% in the 0-30k band to 29.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,731 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.