2006 Volkswagen Jetta MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 58.0% of Volkswagen Jettas first used in 2006 passed their MOT first time, against 57.0% for all cars first used in 2006. Across 4,345 Jetta first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and brakes.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Volkswagen Jettas 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
58.0%
of 1,045 first tests; all cars first used in 2006: 57.0%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
4,345
first tests, 2023–2025; 1,045 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
16.6%
of 1,045 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
133,500
middle half: 103,000–164,500 miles; all cars first used in 2006: 106,500

How the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Jettas 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 Jetta figure was in line with the all-cars figure.

2006 JettaAll cars first used in 2006
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 Jetta, test year 2021: 57.4%2006 Jetta, test year 2022: 58%2006 Jetta, test year 2023: 58.6%2006 Jetta, test year 2024: 58.6%2006 Jetta, test year 2025: 58%58%57%
View this chart as a table
Test year2006 JettaAll cars first used 2006Jetta first tests
202157.4%55.5%2,829
202258.0%56.0%2,326
202358.6%56.2%1,895
202458.6%56.1%1,405
202558.0%57.0%1,045

Common 2006 Volkswagen Jetta MOT failures

Share of the 1,805 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%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment40.4%
Suspension40.2%
Brakes28.6%
Body, chassis, structure24.6%
Tyres19.8%
Visibility18.7%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems18.3%
Noise, emissions and leaks16.6%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt12.6%228
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect12.0%216
Coil spring: fractured or broken11.6%209
SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault10.0%181
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm8.4%152

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 Jetta in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Coil spring: fractured or brokenCoil spring replacement£248£175–£400

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

What to check on a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta before buying

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

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.

Common 2006 Volkswagen Jetta MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2006 Jettas, as a share of all 4,345 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge21.5%935
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement17.3%753
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened14.0%608
Coil spring: corroded13.5%588
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive12.1%526

Questions about the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta?

In 2025, 58.0% of Jettas 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 Jetta most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 40.4% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (40.2%) and brakes (28.6%). The single most common item was “Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” (12.6%).

How often does a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta fail its MOT?

In 2025, 42.0% of first tests on Jettas first used in 2006 did not pass first time: 33.7% failed, and a further 8.3% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 1,805 of 4,345 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2006 Volkswagen Jetta MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 21.5% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (17.3%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (14.0%), “Coil spring: corroded” (13.5%) and “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (12.1%).

Is a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta 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 57.4% in 2021 to 58.0% 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 Volkswagen Jetta 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 Jetta” means a Volkswagen Jetta 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.