2006 Honda Jazz — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Honda Jazz passed 73.9% of its 134,495 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (28.5% fail rate), the 2006 Jazz comes out 2.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.0%) and brakes (13.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and rbt (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 9,382 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.9% in the 0-30k band and 32.2% in the 150k+ band, a 19.3-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 44.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 21,488 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.4% | 18,051 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.3% | 13,828 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 7,458 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 7,254 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 6,821 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 9,382 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 7,989 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 7,817 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 7,367 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 6,952 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 6,901 |
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 | 44.2% | 59,463 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.1% | 47,236 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.4% | 36,886 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.8% | 26,618 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.5% | 15,437 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.3% | 15,256 |
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 | 3,821 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 27,361 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 46,120 | 25.9% |
| 90-120k | 36,361 | 28.8% |
| 120-150k | 15,726 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 5,078 | 32.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 134,421 | 26.1% |
| Diesel | 74 | 28.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30,437 | 24.3% |
| 2022 | 28,651 | 25.1% |
| 2023 | 27,364 | 26.7% |
| 2024 | 25,381 | 27.6% |
| 2025 | 22,662 | 27.5% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Jazz
On a 2006 Jazz, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.4% 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 (10.3% 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 Honda Jazzs pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 134,495 2006 Honda Jazz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Honda Jazz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.0% of tests, followed by brakes (13.4%).
Does the 2006 Jazz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 32.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 134,495 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.