2006 Volkswagen Passat — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 50,152 MOT tests, the 2006 Volkswagen Passat recorded a 72.2% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 27.3%, so the 2006 Passat sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 15.8% of all tests — 3.7 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, coil spring and joints — pins and bushes alone was recorded 4,182 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.7% versus 20.3%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 27.5% of the time against 27.8% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 45.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.8% | 7,947 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 6,118 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 4,700 |
| 4 | Tyres | 8.0% | 4,006 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.8% | 3,389 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 2,970 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 4,182 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 3,736 |
| 3 | Joints | 3,471 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 3,429 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,770 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 2,491 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 45.3% | 22,729 |
| 2 | Tyres | 33.7% | 16,908 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.4% | 13,251 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 7,950 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.7% | 7,362 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.3% | 6,146 |
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 | 74 | 20.3% |
| 30-60k | 756 | 22.5% |
| 60-90k | 3,279 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 8,462 | 27.6% |
| 120-150k | 13,744 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 23,799 | 27.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 44,630 | 27.8% |
| Petrol | 5,521 | 27.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,880 | 28.6% |
| 2022 | 12,596 | 27.3% |
| 2023 | 9,547 | 27.6% |
| 2024 | 7,037 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 5,092 | 27.5% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Passat
On a 2006 Passat, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.4% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Passats pass their MOT?
72.2% of the 50,152 2006 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Volkswagen Passat?
Suspension, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.2%).
Does the 2006 Passat get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.3% in the 0-30k band to 27.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 50,152 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.