Part of the Honda Civic Mk8 (2006–2012) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2006 Honda Civic: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 Honda Civics, from 11,633 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

11,633MOT tests in 2025
53%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
6,500typical miles a year
1.6×the usual rate for headlights

What stands out

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

  • Headlights1.6× usual
    Honda Civic
    23.3% All 2006 cars
    14.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.8%, against 5.1% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Coil springs1.7× usual
    Honda Civic
    19.5% All 2006 cars
    11.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 3% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Shock absorbers1.7× usual
    Honda Civic
    13.3% All 2006 cars
    7.7%

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

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Ball joint dust cover2× usual
    Honda Civic
    9.7% All 2006 cars
    4.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 2% 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.

  • Brake pads1.6× usual
    Honda Civic
    12.9% All 2006 cars
    8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, 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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.9% here, against 14.1% of all 2006 cars. Engine oil leaks: 5.8% here, against 13.7% of all 2006 cars.

By area

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

  • Suspension
    59% 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
    47% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    36% 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.

  • 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% 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
    9% 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 Civic?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20221,408Tyres 18%
20214,879Tyres 24%
20205,557Tyres 25%
201912,616Tyres 27%
201813,501Tyres 26%
201714,519Tyres 28%
201616,113Tyres 29%
201514,922Tyres 30%
201414,323Tyres 31%
201315,114Tyres 31%
201212,861Tyres 31%
201110,851Suspension 42%
201015,916Suspension 49%
200917,540Suspension 52%
200818,395Suspension 53%
200719,084Suspension 56%
200511,046Suspension 52%
20049,115Suspension 53%
20036,408Suspension 56%
20025,574Suspension 54%
20013,779Suspension 55%
20001,474Suspension 46%

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