Used car guide

2006 Honda Accord: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 Honda Accords, from 2,317 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,317MOT tests in 2025

58%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)

7,000typical miles a year

2.1×the usual rate for brake pads

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2006 Honda Accords than on all cars registered in 2006.

Brake pads2.1× usual

Honda Accord
16.7% All 2006 cars
8%

Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 1.9% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.
Anti-roll bar link joints2.7× usual

Honda Accord
11.2% All 2006 cars
4.2%

Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 1.5% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.
Ball joint1.9× usual

Honda Accord
12.2% All 2006 cars
6.4%

Failed outright at MOT: 4.9%, against 3% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.
Anti-roll bar bushes and joints4.7× usual

Honda Accord
6.1% All 2006 cars
1.3%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.3% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.
Anti-roll bar4.2× usual

Honda Accord
2.5% All 2006 cars
0.6%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.1% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Better than most

Drive shaft (CV) joints: 1.8% here, against 7.6% of all 2006 cars. Shock absorbers: 3.5% here, against 7.7% of all 2006 cars.

By area

The share of 2006 Honda Accord MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Suspension

52% of testsRough price £120–£400

At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
Lights and electrics

43% of testsRough price £10–£80

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
Brakes

35% of testsRough price £150–£350

At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
Tyres

33% of testsRough price £70–£150

At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
Wipers, windscreen and mirrors

13% of testsRough price £15–£250

At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
Rust and bodywork

11% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Looking at a Honda Accord?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2012	1,097	Suspension 32%
2011	1,199	Suspension 32%
2010	1,174	Suspension 38%
2009	2,756	Suspension 41%
2008	2,552	Suspension 44%
2007	2,612	Suspension 50%
2005	2,390	Suspension 54%
2004	2,078	Suspension 54%
2003	1,343	Suspension 51%
2000	594	Suspension 45%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2006 Honda Accords registered in 2006. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score