2006 Volkswagen Crafter — MOT failures & pass rate
590 MOT tests on the 2006 Volkswagen Crafter are in this dataset, and 72.2% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (29.6% fail rate), the 2006 Crafter comes out 1.8pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 17.8% of tests against 10.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), service brake performance and rigid brake pipes — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 51 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2006 Crafter fails 27.6% of the time in the 60-90k band and 26.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.7 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 42.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.8% | 105 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 63 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.8% | 58 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 31 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.1% | 30 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 26 |
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) | 51 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 38 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 24 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 5 | Pre 01/07/2008 Turbo | 22 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 21 |
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 | 42.7% | 252 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.0% | 177 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 17.6% | 104 |
| 4 | Other defects | 17.5% | 103 |
| 5 | Tyres | 16.3% | 96 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 74 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 76 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 133 | 27.1% |
| 120-150k | 154 | 30.5% |
| 150k+ | 212 | 26.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 115 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 113 | 29.2% |
| 2023 | 113 | 25.7% |
| 2024 | 110 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 139 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Crafter
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 17.8% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (17.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.8% 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 Volkswagen Crafters pass their MOT?
72.2% of the 590 2006 Volkswagen Crafter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Volkswagen Crafter?
Brakes, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.7%).
Does the 2006 Crafter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.6% in the 60-90k band to 26.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 590 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.