2006 Suzuki Jimny — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Suzuki Jimny passed 71.9% of its 10,634 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as small SUVs of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (12.1%) and brakes (10.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are chassis condition, integral vehicle structure condition and prescribed areas — chassis condition alone was recorded 1,241 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.9% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 32.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.1% | 1,284 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.6% | 1,124 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.1% | 1,076 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.5% | 1,009 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 980 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 518 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chassis condition | 1,241 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 1,080 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 944 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 823 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 764 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 506 |
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 | 32.1% | 3,411 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.6% | 2,717 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.1% | 2,350 |
| 4 | Tyres | 15.8% | 1,677 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 1,178 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.0% | 1,167 |
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 | 332 | 15.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,181 | 24.1% |
| 60-90k | 4,419 | 28.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,739 | 31.2% |
| 120-150k | 832 | 32.5% |
| 150k+ | 128 | 28.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,473 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 2,278 | 28.0% |
| 2023 | 2,149 | 27.3% |
| 2024 | 1,945 | 28.2% |
| 2025 | 1,789 | 28.9% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Jimny
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: body, structure & corrosion accounted for 12.1% of tests. Start there.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.1% 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+.
- Brakes (10.6% 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.
- Suspension (10.1% 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.
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 Suzuki Jimnys pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 10,634 2006 Suzuki Jimny MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Suzuki Jimny?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 12.1% of tests, followed by brakes (10.6%).
Does the 2006 Jimny get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.4% in the 0-30k band to 28.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,634 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.