2006 Nissan Skyline — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Nissan Skyline passed 87.8% of its 698 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), the 2006 Skyline comes out 15.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 9.0% of all tests — 4.0 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 43 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.0% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 22.0% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 16.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 63 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 35 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.7% | 26 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 25 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.1% | 22 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.4% | 17 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 43 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 36 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 24 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 22 |
| 5 | Washers | 21 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 16 |
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 | 16.8% | 117 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.0% | 105 |
| 3 | Tyres | 12.9% | 90 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 55 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.4% | 31 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 31 |
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 | 70 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 229 | 13.1% |
| 90-120k | 216 | 10.2% |
| 120-150k | 106 | 12.3% |
| 150k+ | 59 | 22.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 183 | 14.2% |
| 2022 | 176 | 10.2% |
| 2023 | 136 | 13.2% |
| 2024 | 112 | 9.8% |
| 2025 | 91 | 13.2% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Skyline
On a 2006 Skyline, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (5.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (3.7% 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.
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 Skylines pass their MOT?
87.8% of the 698 2006 Nissan Skyline MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Nissan Skyline?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.0% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (5.0%).
Does the 2006 Skyline get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 30-60k band to 22.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 698 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.