2006 MG ZR — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 MG ZR passed 74.0% of its 450 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.4 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.8% of tests against 8.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, joints and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 44 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.4% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 27.9% once past 120-150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.9% in 2021 to 20.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 71 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.4% | 38 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 36 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.9% | 31 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.2% | 28 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 44 |
| 2 | Joints | 23 |
| 3 | Wipers | 23 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 20 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 17 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 15 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.7% | 120 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.6% | 115 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 19.6% | 88 |
| 4 | Steering | 18.2% | 82 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.8% | 80 |
| 6 | Brakes | 15.6% | 70 |
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 | 107 | 23.4% |
| 60-90k | 152 | 26.3% |
| 90-120k | 109 | 31.2% |
| 120-150k | 43 | 27.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 412 | 27.9% |
| Diesel | 38 | 5.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 135 | 28.9% |
| 2022 | 104 | 25.0% |
| 2023 | 89 | 25.8% |
| 2024 | 67 | 26.9% |
| 2025 | 55 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 2006 ZR
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.4% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.0% 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 MG ZRs pass their MOT?
74.0% of the 450 2006 MG ZR MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 MG ZR?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by brakes (8.4%).
Does the 2006 ZR get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.4% in the 30-60k band to 27.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 450 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.