2006 Vauxhall Astra — MOT failures & pass rate
198,659 MOT tests on the 2006 Vauxhall Astra are in this dataset, and 69.5% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (27.4% fail rate), the 2006 Astra comes out 3.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.4%) and suspension (17.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and headlamp — coil spring alone was recorded 17,449 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 33.6% versus 17.1%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 30.4% of the time against 31.0% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 34,615 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.3% | 34,293 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.1% | 24,067 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.9% | 15,711 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.6% | 13,021 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 11,688 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 17,449 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 16,758 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 13,404 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 9,857 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 9,332 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 8,793 |
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 | 39.4% | 78,203 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.5% | 70,589 |
| 3 | Tyres | 31.3% | 62,174 |
| 4 | Other defects | 25.3% | 50,216 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.5% | 38,783 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 17.4% | 34,543 |
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 | 1,412 | 17.1% |
| 30-60k | 14,153 | 22.3% |
| 60-90k | 46,322 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 68,994 | 31.5% |
| 120-150k | 45,629 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 21,949 | 33.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 166,251 | 30.4% |
| Diesel | 32,392 | 31.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 59,311 | 31.0% |
| 2022 | 47,564 | 30.4% |
| 2023 | 38,495 | 30.4% |
| 2024 | 30,117 | 30.0% |
| 2025 | 23,172 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Astra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.3% 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 (12.1% 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 Vauxhall Astras pass their MOT?
69.5% of the 198,659 2006 Vauxhall Astra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Vauxhall Astra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.4% of tests, followed by suspension (17.3%).
Does the 2006 Astra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.1% in the 0-30k band to 33.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 198,659 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.