2006 Renault Laguna — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Renault Laguna passed 69.4% of its 4,516 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail 27.3% of the time, so this is 3.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.4%) and suspension (16.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, ball joint and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 449 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2006 Laguna fails 30.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 31.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.1 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 30.2% of the time against 30.9% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.1% in 2021 to 29.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 830 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.9% | 762 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.6% | 522 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.4% | 291 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 282 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.0% | 270 |
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 | 449 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 366 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 344 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 290 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 241 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 231 |
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 | 36.8% | 1,663 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.3% | 1,503 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.1% | 1,267 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.5% | 971 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.8% | 806 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.7% | 437 |
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 | 42 | 30.9% |
| 30-60k | 518 | 26.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,176 | 30.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,300 | 31.3% |
| 120-150k | 910 | 32.3% |
| 150k+ | 563 | 31.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,316 | 30.9% |
| Diesel | 2,200 | 30.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,532 | 31.1% |
| 2022 | 1,120 | 30.1% |
| 2023 | 861 | 31.2% |
| 2024 | 588 | 30.1% |
| 2025 | 415 | 29.2% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Laguna
On a 2006 Laguna, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.9% 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.
- Brakes (11.6% 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.
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 Renault Lagunas pass their MOT?
69.4% of the 4,516 2006 Renault Laguna MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Renault Laguna?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.4% of tests, followed by suspension (16.9%).
Does the 2006 Laguna get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.9% in the 0-30k band to 31.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,516 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.