2006 Vauxhall Astra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 198,646 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Vauxhall Astra, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 69.5% was below the average for small family cars of a similar age (72.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 33.6% in the 150k+ group versus 17.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 34,612 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.3% | 34,292 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.1% | 24,066 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.9% | 15,710 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.6% | 13,019 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 11,686 |
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 | 16,756 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 13,403 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 9,857 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 9,332 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 8,792 |
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% | 78,202 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.5% | 70,586 |
| 3 | Tyres | 31.3% | 62,172 |
| 4 | Other defects | 25.3% | 50,211 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.5% | 38,781 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 17.4% | 34,537 |
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 | 1,409 | 17.0% |
| 30-60k | 14,153 | 22.3% |
| 60-90k | 46,321 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 68,986 | 31.5% |
| 120-150k | 45,628 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 21,949 | 33.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 166,238 | 30.4% |
| Diesel | 32,392 | 31.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 59,308 | 31.0% |
| 2022 | 47,561 | 30.4% |
| 2023 | 38,492 | 30.4% |
| 2024 | 30,115 | 30.0% |
| 2025 | 23,170 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Astra
Before buying a 2006 Vauxhall Astra, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 17.4% of tests for this year.
- 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 198,646 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 17.0% in the 0-30k band to 33.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 198,646 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.