2006 Toyota Hiace — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Toyota Hiace passed 77.6% of its 6,279 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests against 10.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, position lamp and wipers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 455 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 25.6% versus 12.6%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 929 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.4% | 655 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.1% | 509 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.5% | 405 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 295 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 223 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 455 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 388 |
| 3 | Wipers | 349 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 330 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 301 |
| 6 | Linkage pins and bushes | 233 |
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 | 35.1% | 2,204 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.8% | 2,058 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.7% | 1,427 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 1,031 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.7% | 737 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.7% | 736 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 247 | 12.6% |
| 60-90k | 623 | 15.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,054 | 20.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,414 | 22.1% |
| 150k+ | 2,915 | 25.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,130 | 22.6% |
| Petrol | 149 | 16.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,418 | 20.8% |
| 2022 | 1,359 | 23.0% |
| 2023 | 1,260 | 22.1% |
| 2024 | 1,173 | 24.0% |
| 2025 | 1,069 | 22.6% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Hiace
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.4% 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 (8.1% 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 Hiaces pass their MOT?
77.6% of the 6,279 2006 Toyota Hiace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Toyota Hiace?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by suspension (10.4%).
Does the 2006 Hiace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.6% in the 30-60k band to 25.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,279 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.