2006 Lotus Exige — MOT failures & pass rate
541 MOT tests on the 2006 Lotus Exige are in this dataset, and 89.6% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (27.4% fail rate), the 2006 Exige comes out 17.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and other defects.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 7.6% of all tests — 4.3 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and registration plates — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 20 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 17.8% once past 60-90k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 10.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.5% in 2021 to 9.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 41 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 18 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.4% | 13 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.2% | 12 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.8% | 10 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.5% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 20 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 19 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 18 |
| 4 | Washers | 12 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 8 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 7 |
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 | 10.3% | 56 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.2% | 39 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.3% | 34 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 22 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.6% | 14 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.6% | 14 |
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 | 161 | 10.6% |
| 30-60k | 304 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 73 | 17.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 113 | 11.5% |
| 2022 | 113 | 9.7% |
| 2023 | 110 | 8.2% |
| 2024 | 99 | 13.1% |
| 2025 | 106 | 9.4% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Exige
On a 2006 Exige, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (3.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Other defects (2.4% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
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 Lotus Exiges pass their MOT?
89.6% of the 541 2006 Lotus Exige MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Lotus Exige?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (3.3%).
Does the 2006 Exige get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.6% in the 0-30k band to 17.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 541 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.