2006 Rolls-Royce Phantom — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Rolls-Royce Phantom passed 94.3% of its 386 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), the 2006 Phantom comes out 21.6pp better. Failures cluster in visibility, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (2.3%) and suspension (2.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are washers, pins and bushes and anti-lock braking system — washers alone was recorded 10 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 1.3% in the 0-30k band and 9.3% in the 90-120k band, a 8.0-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 9.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 7.9% in 2021 to 2.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 2.3% | 9 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.1% | 8 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.8% | 7 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 6 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.0% | 4 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 10 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 7 |
| 3 | Anti-lock braking system | 5 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 4 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 4 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 4 |
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 | 9.6% | 37 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.4% | 21 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.9% | 15 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 12 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.6% | 6 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 5 |
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 | 77 | 1.3% |
| 30-60k | 141 | 5.0% |
| 60-90k | 84 | 3.6% |
| 90-120k | 43 | 9.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89 | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 83 | 8.4% |
| 2023 | 75 | 6.7% |
| 2024 | 69 | 1.5% |
| 2025 | 70 | 2.9% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Phantom
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 2.3% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (2.3% 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.
- Suspension (2.1% 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 (1.8% 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.
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 Rolls-Royce Phantoms pass their MOT?
94.3% of the 386 2006 Rolls-Royce Phantom MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Rolls-Royce Phantom?
Visibility, recorded in 2.3% of tests, followed by suspension (2.1%).
Does the 2006 Phantom get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 1.3% in the 0-30k band to 9.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 386 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.