2006 Toyota Corolla — MOT failures & pass rate
88,767 MOT tests on the 2006 Toyota Corolla are in this dataset, and 78.4% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.5% of the time, so this is 5.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.2% of tests against 10.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 8,015 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.7% in the 0-30k band and 26.8% in the 150k+ band, a 16.1-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 21.0% fail against 23.9% for diesel, a 2.9-point gap across 88,737 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.2% | 17,079 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.4% | 9,216 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.9% | 5,213 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.4% | 4,758 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.4% | 3,927 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 2,738 |
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 | 8,015 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 7,748 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 5,099 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 4,867 |
| 5 | Wipers | 4,169 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 2,923 |
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 | 36.8% | 32,703 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.4% | 28,772 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.5% | 23,491 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 22.4% | 19,874 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.6% | 13,841 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.1% | 9,845 |
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 | 1,343 | 10.7% |
| 30-60k | 10,575 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 23,309 | 19.2% |
| 90-120k | 25,853 | 22.6% |
| 120-150k | 16,823 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 10,816 | 26.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 72,402 | 21.0% |
| Diesel | 16,335 | 23.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,773 | 21.0% |
| 2022 | 19,845 | 21.1% |
| 2023 | 17,901 | 21.5% |
| 2024 | 15,749 | 22.2% |
| 2025 | 13,499 | 22.5% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Corolla
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.2% 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.
- Visibility (5.9% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Corollas pass their MOT?
78.4% of the 88,767 2006 Toyota Corolla MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Toyota Corolla?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.2% of tests, followed by brakes (10.4%).
Does the 2006 Corolla get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.7% in the 0-30k band to 26.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 88,767 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.