2006 Mazda Bt-50 — MOT failures & pass rate
510 MOT tests on the 2006 Mazda Bt-50 are in this dataset, and 71.4% of them passed. That is 1.3 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 21.6% of all tests — 9.4 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and rear fog lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 50 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 32.1% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 27.7% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 34.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.6% | 110 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.2% | 62 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.0% | 61 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.8% | 55 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.1% | 36 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.3% | 22 |
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 | 50 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 50 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 34 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 30 |
| 5 | Joints | 30 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 30 |
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 | 37.5% | 191 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.6% | 161 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 29.4% | 150 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 25.1% | 128 |
| 5 | Tyres | 17.8% | 91 |
| 6 | Steering | 14.3% | 73 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 106 | 32.1% |
| 90-120k | 114 | 24.6% |
| 120-150k | 130 | 30.8% |
| 150k+ | 137 | 27.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 135 | 28.1% |
| 2022 | 114 | 29.8% |
| 2023 | 95 | 25.3% |
| 2024 | 81 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 85 | 34.1% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Bt-50
On a 2006 Bt-50, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (21.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.2% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.0% 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 Bt-50s pass their MOT?
71.4% of the 510 2006 Mazda Bt-50 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Mazda Bt-50?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.6% of tests, followed by brakes (12.2%).
Does the 2006 Bt-50 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.1% in the 60-90k band to 27.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 510 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.