2006 Nissan Almera — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Nissan Almera passed 73.8% of its 10,122 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.2 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests against 12.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, headlamp aim and service brake performance — headlamp alone was recorded 860 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.0% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 37.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 1,776 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.8% | 1,295 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 711 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.6% | 563 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 541 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 535 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 860 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 783 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 546 |
| 4 | Wipers | 461 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 456 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 447 |
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 | 37.9% | 3,838 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.8% | 2,911 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.7% | 2,299 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 1,749 |
| 5 | Steering | 13.1% | 1,324 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.6% | 1,178 |
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 | 259 | 15.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,816 | 20.2% |
| 60-90k | 3,703 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 2,943 | 29.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,059 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 330 | 33.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,773 | 25.5% |
| 2022 | 2,366 | 25.8% |
| 2023 | 1,991 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 1,675 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 1,317 | 26.4% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Almera
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.8% 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.
- Suspension (7.0% 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.
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 Nissan Almeras pass their MOT?
73.8% of the 10,122 2006 Nissan Almera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Nissan Almera?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests, followed by brakes (12.8%).
Does the 2006 Almera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.1% in the 0-30k band to 33.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,122 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.