2006 London Taxis Int Tx4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 London Taxis Int Tx4 passed 72.2% of its 572 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (27.1% 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
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.9%) and suspension (15.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, rbt (sp) and ball joint — pins and bushes alone was recorded 57 times.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 22.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.8% in 2021 to 23.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 91 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.4% | 88 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.1% | 75 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 54 |
| 5 | Steering | 8.6% | 49 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.2% | 30 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 57 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 49 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 37 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 36 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 35 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 34 |
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 | 22.7% | 130 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.4% | 111 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 17.1% | 98 |
| 4 | Steering | 13.6% | 78 |
| 5 | Tyres | 13.6% | 78 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 51 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 150k+ | 464 | 26.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 244 | 25.8% |
| 2022 | 127 | 30.7% |
| 2023 | 102 | 28.4% |
| 2024 | 57 | 31.6% |
| 2025 | 42 | 23.8% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Tx4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.4% 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 (13.1% 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 London Taxis Int Tx4s pass their MOT?
72.2% of the 572 2006 London Taxis Int Tx4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 London Taxis Int Tx4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.9% of tests, followed by suspension (15.4%).
Methodology & source. Based on 572 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.