Used car guide

2006 Vauxhall Vectra: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 Vauxhall Vectras, from 3,176 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,176MOT tests in 2025

56%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)

6,100typical miles a year

1.7×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

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

Engine oil leaks1.7× usual

Vauxhall Vectra
22.7% All 2006 cars
13.7%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, 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.
Coil springs1.7× usual

Vauxhall Vectra
19.5% All 2006 cars
11.2%

Failed outright at MOT: 6.8%, 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.
Exhaust system1.9× usual

Vauxhall Vectra
17.4% All 2006 cars
9.4%

Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, 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.
Sub-frame2× usual

Vauxhall Vectra
14.3% All 2006 cars
7.1%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.3% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.
Individual direction indicators1.9× usual

Vauxhall Vectra
7.2% All 2006 cars
3.7%

Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 1.6% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Track rod ends: 1% here, against 5.7% of all 2006 cars. Brake lights: 3% here, against 5.9% of all 2006 cars.

By area

The share of 2006 Vauxhall Vectra 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.
Brakes

47% 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.
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.
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.
Oil and fluid leaks

24% 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

19% 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.

Looking at a Vauxhall Vectra?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2009	1,270	Suspension 53%
2008	7,050	Suspension 53%
2007	6,118	Suspension 52%
2005	1,456	Suspension 57%
2004	897	Suspension 59%

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