2006 Toyota Avensis — MOT failures & pass rate
36,521 MOT tests on the 2006 Toyota Avensis are in this dataset, and 75.6% of them passed. Against large family cars of a similar age (27.4% fail rate), the 2006 Avensis comes out 2.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.3% of all tests — 7.9 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 3,597 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.2% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.1pp more often than petrol ones (26.2% vs 23.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.3% | 6,682 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.4% | 3,807 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.7% | 3,552 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.4% | 1,970 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 1,936 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 1,403 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 3,597 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,948 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 1,819 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,585 |
| 5 | Suspension arm | 1,423 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 1,341 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 34.4% | 12,544 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.2% | 11,762 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.5% | 9,687 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 5,293 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.3% | 4,865 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 3,760 |
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 | 186 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,830 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 5,920 | 19.7% |
| 90-120k | 9,728 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 8,742 | 25.8% |
| 150k+ | 10,103 | 28.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 20,685 | 23.1% |
| Diesel | 15,829 | 26.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,013 | 24.5% |
| 2022 | 8,487 | 23.6% |
| 2023 | 7,266 | 24.1% |
| 2024 | 6,031 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 4,724 | 24.4% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Avensis
On a 2006 Avensis, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.4% 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 (9.7% 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 Toyota Avensiss pass their MOT?
75.6% of the 36,521 2006 Toyota Avensis MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Toyota Avensis?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.3% of tests, followed by brakes (10.4%).
Does the 2006 Avensis get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 28.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 36,521 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.