2006 Vauxhall Agila — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,384 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Vauxhall Agila, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 76.3% was above the average for city cars of a similar age (70.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 35.0% in the 150k+ group versus 15.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 1,098 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.2% | 683 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.1% | 595 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.8% | 571 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.6% | 550 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 436 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 667 |
| 2 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 463 |
| 3 | Wipers | 436 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 278 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 260 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 252 |
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 | 39.5% | 3,309 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.0% | 2,435 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.2% | 2,195 |
| 4 | Other defects | 21.6% | 1,807 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.4% | 792 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 687 |
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 | 548 | 15.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,706 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 3,031 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,540 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 452 | 29.6% |
| 150k+ | 100 | 35.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,117 | 22.7% |
| 2022 | 1,840 | 23.0% |
| 2023 | 1,703 | 24.1% |
| 2024 | 1,458 | 24.1% |
| 2025 | 1,266 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Agila
Before buying a 2006 Vauxhall Agila, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 13.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (13.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.2% 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.
- Suspension (7.1% 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.
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 Vauxhall Agilas pass their MOT?
76.3% of the 8,384 2006 Vauxhall Agila MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Vauxhall Agila?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.1% of tests, followed by brakes (8.2%).
Does the 2006 Agila get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.5% in the 0-30k band to 35.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,384 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.