2006 Kia Carens — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,827 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Kia Carens, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 62.4% was below the average for cars of a similar age (74.4%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 24.6% | 695 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 19.6% | 555 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.6% | 440 |
| 4 | Suspension | 15.5% | 437 |
| 5 | Tyres | 8.2% | 233 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.2% | 174 |
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) | 526 |
| 2 | Joints | 335 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 266 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 242 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 194 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 170 |
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 | 36.1% | 1,020 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.3% | 913 |
| 3 | Tyres | 32.0% | 904 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.9% | 618 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.1% | 540 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 15.0% | 424 |
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 | 372 | 33.6% |
| 60-90k | 954 | 39.2% |
| 90-120k | 983 | 38.3% |
| 120-150k | 360 | 36.4% |
| 150k+ | 134 | 37.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,298 | 37.2% |
| Petrol | 529 | 39.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,015 | 37.8% |
| 2022 | 695 | 37.5% |
| 2023 | 514 | 37.9% |
| 2024 | 344 | 35.2% |
| 2025 | 259 | 39.4% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Carens
Before buying a 2006 Kia Carens, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 24.6% of tests for this year.
- Brakes (24.6% 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 (19.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.6% 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 Kia Carenss pass their MOT?
62.4% of the 2,827 2006 Kia Carens MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 37.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Kia Carens?
Brakes, recorded in 24.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (19.6%).
Does the 2006 Carens get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 33.6% in the 30-60k band to 37.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,827 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.