2006 Volkswagen Touareg — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 12,033 MOT tests, the 2006 Volkswagen Touareg recorded a 76.9% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 24.4% of the time, so this is 1.3pp better 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 (13.7%) and suspension (10.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and stop lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 867 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 24.6% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.8% 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 | 13.7% | 1,649 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.8% | 1,294 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.9% | 1,066 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.6% | 550 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.2% | 502 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 493 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 867 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 554 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 532 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 509 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 486 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 414 |
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 | 32.8% | 3,950 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.4% | 3,291 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.7% | 3,086 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.4% | 2,700 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 1,697 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.6% | 1,398 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 99 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 666 | 18.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,573 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 3,986 | 22.7% |
| 150k+ | 4,650 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 11,777 | 23.2% |
| Petrol | 256 | 19.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,057 | 23.1% |
| 2022 | 2,845 | 22.5% |
| 2023 | 2,438 | 23.3% |
| 2024 | 2,013 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 1,680 | 23.8% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Touareg
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.8% 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.
- Brakes (8.9% 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 Volkswagen Touaregs pass their MOT?
76.9% of the 12,033 2006 Volkswagen Touareg MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Volkswagen Touareg?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by suspension (10.8%).
Does the 2006 Touareg get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.2% in the 30-60k band to 24.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,033 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.