2006 Vauxhall Vivaro — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 57,898 MOT tests, the 2006 Vauxhall Vivaro recorded a 66.9% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 29.5% of the time, so this is 3.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (21.9%) and suspension (20.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, track rod end and position lamp — ball joint alone was recorded 7,636 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2006 Vivaro fails 32.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 33.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.2 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.9% 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 | 21.9% | 12,686 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.1% | 11,640 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.3% | 10,002 |
| 4 | Steering | 9.6% | 5,559 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.0% | 5,192 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 3,302 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 7,636 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 5,476 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 5,363 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 5,053 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 4,042 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,497 |
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 | 40.9% | 23,665 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.6% | 20,627 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 28.3% | 16,378 |
| 4 | Tyres | 25.5% | 14,772 |
| 5 | Other defects | 23.8% | 13,757 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 8,384 |
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 | 82 | 32.9% |
| 30-60k | 551 | 25.6% |
| 60-90k | 3,478 | 30.0% |
| 90-120k | 11,084 | 32.7% |
| 120-150k | 16,210 | 34.1% |
| 150k+ | 26,417 | 33.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 57,832 | 33.1% |
| Petrol | 66 | 22.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,671 | 33.1% |
| 2022 | 13,263 | 32.8% |
| 2023 | 11,751 | 32.9% |
| 2024 | 10,071 | 33.6% |
| 2025 | 8,142 | 33.0% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Vivaro
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 21.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (21.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (20.1% 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.
- Brakes (17.3% 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 Vivaros pass their MOT?
66.9% of the 57,898 2006 Vauxhall Vivaro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Vauxhall Vivaro?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.9% of tests, followed by suspension (20.1%).
Does the 2006 Vivaro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.9% in the 0-30k band to 33.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 57,898 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.