2006 Honda Civic — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 115,316 MOT tests, the 2006 Honda Civic recorded a 72.6% pass rate. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (27.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.6% of tests against 14.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 11,687 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.4% versus 18.2%.
The hybrid cars hold up better: 21.6% fail against 29.5% for diesel, a 7.9-point gap across 28,155 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.6% 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 | 20.6% | 23,807 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.7% | 16,906 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.1% | 10,469 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.4% | 7,357 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.9% | 5,678 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 4,237 |
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 | 11,687 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 8,845 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 8,509 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 5,050 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 4,843 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 4,398 |
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 | 40.6% | 46,879 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.2% | 34,778 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.4% | 32,797 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 22.2% | 25,601 |
| 5 | Other defects | 18.1% | 20,933 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.1% | 10,461 |
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 | 688 | 18.2% |
| 30-60k | 4,779 | 19.6% |
| 60-90k | 17,884 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 34,582 | 27.2% |
| 120-150k | 32,585 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 24,577 | 30.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 86,643 | 26.9% |
| Diesel | 27,622 | 29.5% |
| Hybrid | 533 | 21.6% |
| Electric | 289 | 19.4% |
| Other | 229 | 19.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30,931 | 27.1% |
| 2022 | 26,981 | 27.0% |
| 2023 | 23,239 | 27.4% |
| 2024 | 19,067 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 15,098 | 28.3% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Civic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.7% 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 (9.1% 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 Civics pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 115,316 2006 Honda Civic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Honda Civic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.6% of tests, followed by suspension (14.7%).
Does the 2006 Civic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.2% in the 0-30k band to 30.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 115,316 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.