2006 Honda CR-V — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 68,119 MOT tests, the 2006 Honda CR-V recorded a 73.4% pass rate. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (27.8% fail rate), the 2006 CR-V comes out 1.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.5% of tests against 14.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 6,828 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.0% in the 0-30k band and 30.0% in the 150k+ band, a 20.0-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 24.9% fail against 28.1% for diesel, a 3.2-point gap across 68,119 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 46.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.5% | 12,628 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.8% | 10,117 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.0% | 4,774 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.6% | 3,790 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 3,550 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.6% | 3,135 |
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 | 6,828 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 5,862 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 4,093 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 3,743 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 3,394 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 3,174 |
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 | 46.6% | 31,715 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.8% | 18,949 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 23.7% | 16,148 |
| 4 | Brakes | 22.9% | 15,588 |
| 5 | Steering | 12.8% | 8,750 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.5% | 8,534 |
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 | 180 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,791 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 7,896 | 21.8% |
| 90-120k | 16,937 | 25.0% |
| 120-150k | 19,629 | 27.5% |
| 150k+ | 21,672 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 36,673 | 28.1% |
| Petrol | 31,446 | 24.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,965 | 25.5% |
| 2022 | 15,040 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 13,810 | 27.1% |
| 2024 | 12,416 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 10,888 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 2006 CR-V
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.8% 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.
- Brakes (7.0% 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.
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 CR-Vs pass their MOT?
73.4% of the 68,119 2006 Honda CR-V MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Honda CR-V?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.5% of tests, followed by suspension (14.8%).
Does the 2006 CR-V get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 30.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 68,119 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.