2006 Mercedes-Benz Motorhome — MOT failures & pass rate
266 MOT tests on the 2006 Mercedes-Benz Motorhome are in this dataset, and 83.1% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (27.4% fail rate), the 2006 Motorhome comes out 10.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests against 8.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and brake discs — wipers alone was recorded 14 times.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.1% in 2021 to 19.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 31 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.6% | 23 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.5% | 12 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 6 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.9% | 5 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 14 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 12 |
| 3 | Brake discs | 9 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 9 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 9 |
| 6 | Outline marker lamp | 9 |
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 | 23.3% | 62 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.0% | 40 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 31 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.1% | 19 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 12 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.6% | 7 |
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 | 135 | 17.8% |
| 60-90k | 65 | 10.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 58 | 24.1% |
| 2022 | 50 | 10.0% |
| 2023 | 51 | 11.8% |
| 2024 | 56 | 17.9% |
| 2025 | 51 | 19.6% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Motorhome
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.6% 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.
- Visibility (4.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Mercedes-Benz Motorhomes pass their MOT?
83.1% of the 266 2006 Mercedes-Benz Motorhome MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Mercedes-Benz Motorhome?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by brakes (8.6%).
Does the 2006 Motorhome get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.8% in the 30-60k band to 10.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 266 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.