2006 Vauxhall Combo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 31,118 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Vauxhall Combo, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 66.7% was below the average for vans of a similar age (70.5%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.3% | 6,316 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 5,669 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.9% | 4,630 |
| 4 | Tyres | 9.2% | 2,868 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.6% | 2,663 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 2,657 |
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 | 3,193 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,512 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 2,488 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 2,156 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 1,806 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 1,721 |
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 | 46.3% | 14,412 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.9% | 11,468 |
| 3 | Tyres | 33.9% | 10,549 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 27.9% | 8,673 |
| 5 | Other defects | 24.5% | 7,617 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 18.0% | 5,614 |
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 | 283 | 36.8% |
| 30-60k | 771 | 26.5% |
| 60-90k | 4,147 | 29.9% |
| 90-120k | 9,106 | 33.4% |
| 120-150k | 8,652 | 34.1% |
| 150k+ | 7,561 | 34.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 30,807 | 33.4% |
| Petrol | 300 | 23.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,006 | 33.0% |
| 2022 | 7,748 | 33.5% |
| 2023 | 6,160 | 33.4% |
| 2024 | 4,699 | 33.4% |
| 2025 | 3,505 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Combo
Before buying a 2006 Vauxhall Combo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 20.3% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (20.3% 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 (18.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.9% 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 Vauxhall Combos pass their MOT?
66.7% of the 31,118 2006 Vauxhall Combo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Vauxhall Combo?
Suspension, recorded in 20.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.2%).
Does the 2006 Combo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 36.8% in the 0-30k band to 34.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,118 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.