2006 Toyota Celica — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Toyota Celica passed 74.8% of its 6,398 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 21.9% of the time, so this is 3.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.7%) and brakes (12.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 622 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.3% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.7% | 940 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.3% | 790 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 7.7% | 493 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.3% | 469 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 365 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.8% | 246 |
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 | 622 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 432 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 374 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 301 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 261 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 217 |
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 | 30.6% | 1,957 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.6% | 1,703 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.5% | 1,439 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.7% | 1,007 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 848 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.3% | 595 |
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 | 90 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 635 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,654 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 2,116 | 26.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,259 | 27.6% |
| 150k+ | 639 | 28.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,457 | 24.8% |
| 2022 | 1,382 | 25.0% |
| 2023 | 1,326 | 25.7% |
| 2024 | 1,171 | 25.5% |
| 2025 | 1,062 | 24.8% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Celica
On a 2006 Celica, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.3% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (7.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Celicas pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 6,398 2006 Toyota Celica MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Toyota Celica?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.7% of tests, followed by brakes (12.3%).
Does the 2006 Celica get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 28.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,398 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.