2006 Vauxhall Combo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Vauxhall Combo passed 66.7% of its 31,118 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.8 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 29.5%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (20.3%) and lighting & signalling (18.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, headlamp aim and component mounting prescribed areas — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 3,193 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2006 Combo fails 36.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 34.2% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.5 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 46.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.3% | 6,316 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 5,669 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.9% | 4,630 |
| 4 | Tyres | 9.2% | 2,868 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.6% | 2,663 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 2,657 |
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 | 3,193 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,512 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 2,488 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 2,156 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 1,806 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 1,721 |
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 | 46.3% | 14,412 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.9% | 11,468 |
| 3 | Tyres | 33.9% | 10,549 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 27.9% | 8,673 |
| 5 | Other defects | 24.5% | 7,617 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 18.0% | 5,614 |
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 | 283 | 36.8% |
| 30-60k | 771 | 26.5% |
| 60-90k | 4,147 | 29.9% |
| 90-120k | 9,106 | 33.4% |
| 120-150k | 8,652 | 34.1% |
| 150k+ | 7,561 | 34.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 30,807 | 33.4% |
| Petrol | 300 | 23.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,006 | 33.0% |
| 2022 | 7,748 | 33.5% |
| 2023 | 6,160 | 33.4% |
| 2024 | 4,699 | 33.4% |
| 2025 | 3,505 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Combo
On a 2006 Combo, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (20.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (18.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.9% 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 Combos pass their MOT?
66.7% of the 31,118 2006 Vauxhall Combo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Vauxhall Combo?
Suspension, recorded in 20.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.2%).
Does the 2006 Combo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 36.8% in the 0-30k band to 34.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,118 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.