2006 Vauxhall Astravan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 12,407 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Vauxhall Astravan, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 70.7% was below the average for cars of a similar age (74.4%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 2,110 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.4% | 2,041 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.4% | 1,910 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.6% | 1,062 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 834 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.4% | 792 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,605 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,133 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 990 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 720 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 674 |
| 6 | Washers | 638 |
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 | 48.3% | 5,987 |
| 2 | Suspension | 39.0% | 4,841 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.8% | 3,820 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.9% | 2,839 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 2,240 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.9% | 1,729 |
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 | 117 | 33.3% |
| 30-60k | 208 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 754 | 23.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,131 | 27.4% |
| 120-150k | 3,222 | 29.3% |
| 150k+ | 5,662 | 30.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,228 | 29.3% |
| Petrol | 179 | 27.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,652 | 30.6% |
| 2022 | 2,976 | 29.4% |
| 2023 | 2,397 | 28.2% |
| 2024 | 1,883 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 1,499 | 28.1% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Astravan
Before buying a 2006 Vauxhall Astravan, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 17.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (17.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.4% 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 (15.4% 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 Vauxhall Astravans pass their MOT?
70.7% of the 12,407 2006 Vauxhall Astravan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Vauxhall Astravan?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.0% of tests, followed by suspension (16.4%).
Does the 2006 Astravan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 33.3% in the 0-30k band to 30.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,407 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.