2006 Mazda 6 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Mazda 6 passed 69.6% of its 11,778 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.1 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.3%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.4%) and lighting & signalling (15.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and headlamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,774 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 22.3% in the 0-30k band and 36.6% in the 150k+ band, a 14.3-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.1pp more often than petrol ones (32.3% vs 30.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.4% in 2021 to 28.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.4% | 1,927 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 1,876 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.3% | 1,330 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 824 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.5% | 647 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 631 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,774 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 804 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 789 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 787 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 643 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 639 |
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 | 39.1% | 4,610 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.8% | 3,741 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.5% | 3,237 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.0% | 2,243 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 1,996 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.6% | 1,605 |
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 | 103 | 22.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,027 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 3,060 | 26.8% |
| 90-120k | 3,847 | 31.1% |
| 120-150k | 2,577 | 34.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,161 | 36.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,404 | 30.2% |
| Diesel | 1,371 | 32.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,825 | 31.4% |
| 2022 | 2,925 | 30.6% |
| 2023 | 2,224 | 30.6% |
| 2024 | 1,594 | 28.7% |
| 2025 | 1,210 | 28.7% |
What to check before buying a 2006 6
On a 2006 6, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (16.4% 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.
- 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.
- Brakes (11.3% 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 6s pass their MOT?
69.6% of the 11,778 2006 Mazda 6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Mazda 6?
Suspension, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.9%).
Does the 2006 6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.3% in the 0-30k band to 36.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,778 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.