2006 Volkswagen Phaeton — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 524 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Volkswagen Phaeton, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 82.6% was above the average for cars of a similar age (74.4%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 9.0% | 47 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 36 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.3% | 28 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.6% | 24 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 21 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 15 |
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) | 19 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 17 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 12 |
| 5 | Washers | 12 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 11 |
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 | 24.6% | 129 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.2% | 111 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.8% | 88 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.9% | 52 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.4% | 44 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 36 |
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 | 92 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 146 | 14.4% |
| 120-150k | 115 | 18.3% |
| 150k+ | 137 | 20.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 474 | 17.5% |
| Petrol | 50 | 16.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 144 | 18.1% |
| 2022 | 121 | 14.1% |
| 2023 | 110 | 17.3% |
| 2024 | 81 | 19.8% |
| 2025 | 68 | 19.1% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Phaeton
Before buying a 2006 Volkswagen Phaeton, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 9.0% of tests for this year.
- Brakes (9.0% 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 (6.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 Phaetons pass their MOT?
82.6% of the 524 2006 Volkswagen Phaeton MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Volkswagen Phaeton?
Brakes, recorded in 9.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.9%).
Does the 2006 Phaeton get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.6% in the 60-90k band to 20.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 524 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.