2006 Mazda 3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 30,751 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Mazda 3, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 70.4% was below the average for small family cars of a similar age (72.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 35.6% in the 150k+ group versus 15.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 6,121 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.3% | 5,615 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.4% | 2,288 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 2,042 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.6% | 2,032 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 1,593 |
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 | 2,973 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,309 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 2,289 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 1,939 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 1,888 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,750 |
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% | 14,320 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.3% | 9,635 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.8% | 8,229 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.7% | 5,752 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.7% | 5,430 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.2% | 4,049 |
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 | 230 | 15.7% |
| 30-60k | 2,628 | 19.9% |
| 60-90k | 7,912 | 26.4% |
| 90-120k | 10,771 | 30.8% |
| 120-150k | 6,467 | 33.7% |
| 150k+ | 2,738 | 35.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 29,867 | 29.6% |
| Diesel | 884 | 30.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,681 | 29.1% |
| 2022 | 7,335 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 6,066 | 30.1% |
| 2024 | 4,919 | 30.4% |
| 2025 | 3,750 | 29.9% |
What to check before buying a 2006 3
Before buying a 2006 Mazda 3, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 19.9% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (19.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (18.3% 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.
- 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 Mazda 3s pass their MOT?
70.4% of the 30,751 2006 Mazda 3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Mazda 3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.9% of tests, followed by suspension (18.3%).
Does the 2006 3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.7% in the 0-30k band to 35.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 30,751 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.