2006 Jaguar S-Type — MOT failures & pass rate
12,432 MOT tests on the 2006 Jaguar S-Type are in this dataset, and 75.6% of them passed. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (23.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (11.7%) and lighting & signalling (11.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 1,220 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.0% versus 10.8%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.9% fail against 25.3% for diesel, a 2.4-point gap across 12,432 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.7% | 1,448 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 1,368 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.4% | 918 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.5% | 679 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 491 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.4% | 420 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 1,220 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 631 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 628 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 568 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 522 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 425 |
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 | 33.2% | 4,125 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.9% | 2,976 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.6% | 2,935 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.3% | 1,153 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 971 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.5% | 813 |
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 | 167 | 10.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,304 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 3,790 | 23.4% |
| 90-120k | 4,147 | 25.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,127 | 26.8% |
| 150k+ | 893 | 28.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,708 | 25.3% |
| Petrol | 4,724 | 22.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,273 | 23.6% |
| 2022 | 2,906 | 24.6% |
| 2023 | 2,437 | 24.0% |
| 2024 | 2,079 | 25.8% |
| 2025 | 1,737 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2006 S-Type
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 11.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (11.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.4% 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.
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 Jaguar S-Types pass their MOT?
75.6% of the 12,432 2006 Jaguar S-Type MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Jaguar S-Type?
Suspension, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.0%).
Does the 2006 S-Type get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 0-30k band to 28.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,432 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.