2006 Suzuki Wagon=R= — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,217 MOT tests, the 2006 Suzuki Wagon=R= recorded a 75.9% pass rate. That is 4.7 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.8%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.2%) and lighting & signalling (9.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, position lamp and wipers — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 311 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.4% versus 18.9%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 41.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.2% | 387 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 378 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.9% | 333 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.3% | 264 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.2% | 261 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 232 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 311 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 182 |
| 3 | Wipers | 174 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 172 |
| 5 | Wheel bearings | 157 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 149 |
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 | 41.0% | 1,728 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.4% | 1,156 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.5% | 1,118 |
| 4 | Other defects | 18.2% | 766 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 452 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.3% | 393 |
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 | 222 | 18.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,295 | 20.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,642 | 24.8% |
| 90-120k | 772 | 27.6% |
| 120-150k | 220 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 62 | 27.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,040 | 22.9% |
| 2022 | 928 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 862 | 25.4% |
| 2024 | 743 | 25.2% |
| 2025 | 644 | 24.7% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Wagon=R=
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 9.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (9.2% 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.
- 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.
- Brakes (7.9% 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 Suzuki Wagon=R=s pass their MOT?
75.9% of the 4,217 2006 Suzuki Wagon=R= MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Suzuki Wagon=R=?
Suspension, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.0%).
Does the 2006 Wagon=R= get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.9% in the 0-30k band to 27.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,217 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.