Used car guide

2006 Honda Jazz: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 Honda Jazzs, from 17,481 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

17,481MOT tests in 2025
55%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
4,600typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

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

  • Rigid brake pipes2× usual
    Honda Jazz
    28.6% All 2006 cars
    14.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.8%, against 2.3% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Headlights1.6× usual
    Honda Jazz
    22.7% All 2006 cars
    14.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.4%, 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.

  • Front strut mounts and bushes11.1× usual
    Honda Jazz
    8.9% All 2006 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.1% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£400 our estimate

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

  • Brake pads1.8× usual
    Honda Jazz
    14.2% 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.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 3.5% here, against 13.7% of all 2006 cars. Drive shaft (CV) joints: 2.1% here, against 7.6% of all 2006 cars.

By area

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

  • Brakes
    53% 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.

  • Suspension
    50% 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
    44% 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
    34% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    14% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Rust and bodywork
    13% 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 Jazz?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
202210,671Tyres 19%
202114,475Tyres 22%
202010,702Tyres 24%
201916,765Tyres 25%
201820,160Tyres 25%
201717,923Tyres 25%
201618,372Tyres 26%
201517,757Tyres 26%
201420,100Tyres 27%
201321,145Tyres 28%
201221,520Tyres 28%
201119,949Brakes 29%
201021,629Lights and electrics 34%
200923,240Lights and electrics 35%
200819,321Brakes 49%
200718,602Brakes 52%
200513,836Brakes 53%
20049,375Suspension 54%
20035,123Suspension 59%
20022,109Suspension 65%

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