2006 Toyota Supra — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Toyota Supra passed 87.4% of its 326 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (21.9% fail rate), the 2006 Supra comes out 9.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 9.8% of all tests — 5.2 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, rear fog lamp and position lamp — headlamp alone was recorded 21 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2006 Supra fails 10.2% of the time in the 60-90k band and 9.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 16.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 14.8% in 2021 to 12.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 32 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.6% | 15 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 14 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 13 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 8 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.1% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 21 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 10 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 7 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 7 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 7 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 6 |
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 | 16.9% | 55 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.4% | 47 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 10.7% | 35 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 34 |
| 5 | Tyres | 9.8% | 32 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 26 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 88 | 10.2% |
| 90-120k | 94 | 9.6% |
| 120-150k | 78 | 19.2% |
| 150k+ | 43 | 9.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 82 | 21.9% |
| 2023 | 63 | 3.2% |
| 2024 | 50 | 6.0% |
| 2025 | 50 | 12.0% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Supra
On a 2006 Supra, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.6% 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 (4.3% 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 Supras pass their MOT?
87.4% of the 326 2006 Toyota Supra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Toyota Supra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.8% of tests, followed by brakes (4.6%).
Does the 2006 Supra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.2% in the 60-90k band to 9.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 326 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.