Part of the Vauxhall Corsa D (2006–2014) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2006 Vauxhall Corsa: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 Vauxhall Corsas, from 13,490 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

13,490MOT tests in 2025
50%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
4,300typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2006 Vauxhall Corsas than on all cars registered in 2006.

  • Engine oil leaks1.9× usual
    Vauxhall Corsa
    26.2% All 2006 cars
    13.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.3% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.5× usual
    Vauxhall Corsa
    18.7% All 2006 cars
    7.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.2%, against 3.4% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Exhaust system2× usual
    Vauxhall Corsa
    18.9% All 2006 cars
    9.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 2.4% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Shock absorbers1.7× usual
    Vauxhall Corsa
    13.4% All 2006 cars
    7.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, 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.

Better than most

Rust around suspension or steering mountings: 1.8% here, against 5.5% of all 2006 cars.

By area

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

  • Suspension
    51% 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.

  • Brakes
    40% 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
    39% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    37% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    28% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    20% 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.

Known faults

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Steering rack recall
    All engines

    Some Corsa Ds were recalled because the steering rack could fail under heavy load.

    At the viewing: Ask a Vauxhall dealer to check the VIN for the recall.

    Source: Haynes: Vauxhall Corsa D common problems

  • Worn gearbox synchromesh
    Manual gearbox

    A sticky gear change and a scraping noise from underneath between about 1,800 and 2,800 rpm point to worn synchromesh.

    At the viewing: Change up and down through every gear, especially 3rd to 4th, and listen in that rev range.

    If it needs doing: Gearbox sensor or solenoid, about £200–£500. ClickMechanic

    Source: Haynes: Vauxhall Corsa D common problems

  • Clutch that doesn't fully let go
    Manual gearbox

    The clutch may not fully disengage, so gears are hard to select.

    At the viewing: Check gears go in easily from a standstill with the clutch pressed.

    If it needs doing: Clutch replacement, about £250–£600. ClickMechanic

    Source: Haynes: Vauxhall Corsa D common problems

Looking at a Vauxhall Corsa?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20231,579Tyres 15%
202236,311Tyres 24%
202140,342Tyres 27%
202045,555Tyres 27%
201953,103Tyres 30%
201852,881Tyres 34%
201751,952Suspension 37%
201675,262Suspension 41%
201586,750Suspension 43%
201472,145Suspension 45%
201369,342Suspension 43%
201268,241Suspension 44%
201153,798Suspension 45%
201046,093Suspension 45%
200939,752Suspension 47%
200835,822Suspension 50%
200726,793Suspension 51%
20059,026Suspension 50%
20046,393Suspension 50%
20035,333Suspension 51%
20023,564Suspension 52%
20012,394Suspension 46%
20001,025Suspension 40%

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