2006 Vauxhall Corsavan — MOT failures & pass rate
2,800 MOT tests on the 2006 Vauxhall Corsavan are in this dataset, and 67.9% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (29.4% fail rate), the 2006 Corsavan comes out 2.7pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.5%) and brakes (16.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), coil spring and headlamp aim — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 273 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 32.9% versus 19.7%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 37.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.9% in 2021 to 29.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.5% | 517 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.9% | 473 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.4% | 460 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 246 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.6% | 242 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.9% | 222 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 273 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 219 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 213 |
| 4 | Joints | 196 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 172 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 165 |
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 | 37.9% | 1,060 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.4% | 878 |
| 3 | Suspension | 31.3% | 877 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 23.3% | 653 |
| 5 | Other defects | 21.8% | 609 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.0% | 504 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 76 | 19.7% |
| 60-90k | 468 | 28.6% |
| 90-120k | 816 | 32.5% |
| 120-150k | 808 | 34.3% |
| 150k+ | 571 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,766 | 32.3% |
| Petrol | 34 | 20.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 841 | 32.9% |
| 2022 | 695 | 32.7% |
| 2023 | 558 | 32.6% |
| 2024 | 399 | 31.1% |
| 2025 | 307 | 29.3% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Corsavan
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.9% 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.
- Suspension (16.4% 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 Corsavans pass their MOT?
67.9% of the 2,800 2006 Vauxhall Corsavan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Vauxhall Corsavan?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.5% of tests, followed by brakes (16.9%).
Does the 2006 Corsavan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.7% in the 30-60k band to 32.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,800 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.