2006 Mazda Bongo — MOT failures & pass rate
4,309 MOT tests on the 2006 Mazda Bongo are in this dataset, and 65.9% of them passed. That is 4.4 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 29.7%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (21.3%) and lighting & signalling (20.0%) 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, integral vehicle structure condition and chassis condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,154 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 37.2% versus 20.0%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.8% in 2021 to 32.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 21.3% | 919 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 20.0% | 860 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 582 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.3% | 446 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.5% | 324 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.1% | 221 |
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 | 1,154 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 421 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 378 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 329 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 313 |
| 6 | Wipers | 279 |
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 | 33.9% | 1,462 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.5% | 1,270 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 22.1% | 952 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.5% | 884 |
| 5 | Tyres | 20.1% | 866 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 640 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 50 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 399 | 26.3% |
| 90-120k | 744 | 31.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,067 | 33.8% |
| 150k+ | 2,028 | 37.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,856 | 35.4% |
| Petrol | 453 | 23.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,169 | 34.8% |
| 2022 | 1,038 | 34.5% |
| 2023 | 949 | 35.0% |
| 2024 | 613 | 32.5% |
| 2025 | 540 | 32.0% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Bongo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 21.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (21.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (20.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Bongos pass their MOT?
65.9% of the 4,309 2006 Mazda Bongo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Mazda Bongo?
Suspension, recorded in 21.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (20.0%).
Does the 2006 Bongo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 30-60k band to 37.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,309 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.