2006 Toyota Aygo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 55,102 MOT tests, the 2006 Toyota Aygo recorded a 71.7% pass rate. That is effectively the same as city cars of a similar age (28.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.1% of tests against 11.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 5,589 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.5% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.2% of the time against 29.5% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.1% | 11,077 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.6% | 6,369 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.2% | 6,156 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 3,701 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 3,575 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.6% | 3,090 |
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 | 5,589 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 4,621 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 3,920 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 3,810 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 3,431 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 2,805 |
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 | 37.6% | 20,709 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.5% | 18,996 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.5% | 15,133 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.9% | 11,508 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.1% | 8,302 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.2% | 5,632 |
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 | 1,380 | 17.3% |
| 30-60k | 8,662 | 21.8% |
| 60-90k | 18,651 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 17,426 | 30.5% |
| 120-150k | 7,145 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,824 | 31.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 53,770 | 28.2% |
| Diesel | 1,332 | 29.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,033 | 27.2% |
| 2022 | 12,119 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 11,151 | 28.3% |
| 2024 | 10,127 | 29.2% |
| 2025 | 8,672 | 29.7% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Aygo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.6% 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 (11.2% 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 Toyota Aygos pass their MOT?
71.7% of the 55,102 2006 Toyota Aygo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Toyota Aygo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.1% of tests, followed by suspension (11.6%).
Does the 2006 Aygo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.3% in the 0-30k band to 31.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 55,102 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.