2006 Ford Ka MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 50.4% of Ford Kas first used in 2006 passed their MOT first time, against 57.0% for all cars first used in 2006. Across 8,738 Ka first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were suspension, lamps and electrical equipment and body, chassis and structure.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Ford Kas first used in 2006 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
50.4%
of 2,071 first tests; all cars first used in 2006: 57.0%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
8,738
first tests, 2023–2025; 2,071 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
18.0%
of 2,071 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
51,000
middle half: 35,000–67,500 miles; all cars first used in 2006: 106,500

How the 2006 Ford Ka MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Kas first used in 2006 against all cars first used in 2006 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Ka figure was 6.6 points lower.

2006 KaAll cars first used in 2006
40%50%60%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2006, test year 2021: 55.5%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2022: 56%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2023: 56.2%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2024: 56.1%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2025: 57%2006 Ka, test year 2021: 46.6%2006 Ka, test year 2022: 48.9%2006 Ka, test year 2023: 48.7%2006 Ka, test year 2024: 50%2006 Ka, test year 2025: 50.4%57%50.4%
View this chart as a table
Test year2006 KaAll cars first used 2006Ka first tests
202146.6%55.5%6,980
202248.9%56.0%5,174
202348.7%56.2%3,868
202450.0%56.1%2,799
202550.4%57.0%2,071

Common 2006 Ford Ka MOT failures

Share of the 4,414 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Suspension58.7%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment38.9%
Body, chassis, structure21.1%
Visibility19.8%
Tyres16.6%
Brakes14.0%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems11.1%
Noise, emissions and leaks10.9%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength27.0%1,190
Coil spring: fractured or broken14.2%625
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn13.4%593
Prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced10.7%474
Stop lamp: not working9.7%427

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

Typical repair costs for common MOT failures

Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Ka in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Coil spring: fractured or brokenCoil spring replacement£248£175–£400
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively wornSuspension arm replacement£150£120–£180

From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.

What to check on a 2006 Ford Ka before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  2. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  3. Body and underside. Worth looking underneath with a torch at the sills, floor and mountings for corrosion, and at the rubber boots on the drive shafts for splits.

Common 2006 Ford Ka MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2006 Kas, as a share of all 8,738 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement19.6%1,713
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive16.3%1,428
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge14.7%1,281
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing14.0%1,227
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive13.6%1,186

Questions about the 2006 Ford Ka MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2006 Ford Ka?

In 2025, 50.4% of Kas first used in 2006 passed their MOT first time, against 57.0% for all cars first used in 2006. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2006 Ka most often fail its MOT on?

Suspension (in 58.7% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), lamps and electrical equipment (38.9%) and body, chassis and structure (21.1%). The single most common item was “Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength” (27.0%).

How often does a 2006 Ford Ka fail its MOT?

In 2025, 49.6% of first tests on Kas first used in 2006 did not pass first time: 43.0% failed, and a further 6.6% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 4,414 of 8,738 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2006 Ford Ka MOT advisories?

“Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (on 19.6% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (16.3%), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (14.7%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (14.0%) and “Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive” (13.6%).

Is a 2006 Ford Ka reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 46.6% in 2021 to 50.4% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2006

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2006 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2006 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2006 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2006 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics · 2006 MINI Hatch MOT statistics

How the 2006 Ford Ka MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2006 Ka” means a Ford Ka whose date of first use falls in 2006 (55, 06 and 56 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2006, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Repair prices are typical UK prices for the job from published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026 — not for this model, and not a quote. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.