2006 Vauxhall Vx220 — MOT failures & pass rate
309 MOT tests on the 2006 Vauxhall Vx220 are in this dataset, and 87.7% of them passed. That is 15.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.1% of all tests — 3.2 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 19 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 18.0% versus 7.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 11.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.0% in 2021 to 8.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 25 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 15 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.2% | 13 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.9% | 6 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.6% | 5 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.0% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 19 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 11 |
| 3 | Washers | 9 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 7 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 6 |
| 6 | Horn | 4 |
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 | 11.0% | 34 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.1% | 25 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.2% | 13 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.6% | 5 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 5 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 3 |
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 | 108 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 139 | 13.7% |
| 60-90k | 50 | 18.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 69 | 13.0% |
| 2022 | 60 | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 65 | 13.9% |
| 2024 | 65 | 13.9% |
| 2025 | 50 | 8.0% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Vx220
On a 2006 Vx220, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (4.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (4.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Vx220s pass their MOT?
87.7% of the 309 2006 Vauxhall Vx220 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Vauxhall Vx220?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.1% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (4.9%).
Does the 2006 Vx220 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 18.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 309 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.