Nissan Cabstar (2006)
2006 Nissan Cabstar
CarHunch analysed 975 real MOT records for the 2006 Nissan Cabstar. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2006 Nissan Cabstar has a first-time pass rate of 64.6%, well below the UK average of 80%, and carries a serious concern: 63.3% of vehicles in this cohort have suffered at least one dangerous defect during their MOT history. This combination suggests buyers should expect reliability issues and safety risks that are substantially worse than typical.
At an average mileage of 77,746 miles for an 18-year-old vehicle, these Cabstars have covered reasonable distance, yet still accumulate 6.67 failures and 40.2 advisories per test on average—indicating persistent wear and systemic maintenance demands. Before purchasing, obtain a full MOT history and have a trusted mechanic inspect the braking, suspension, and steering systems in detail, as these are where dangerous defects typically emerge on light commercial vehicles of this age.
What to check before buying a 2006 Nissan Cabstar
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 63.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Nissan Cabstar
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Mileage Distribution
Most 2006 Nissan Cabstar vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2006 Nissan Cabstar vehicles fall between 54,484 and 95,946 miles.
2006 Nissan Cabstar — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 287 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (35% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2006 Nissan Cabstar
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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218.7%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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108.3%
Service brake: efficiency below requirements
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63.9%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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60.7%
Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'
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57.8%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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56%
Parking brake efficiency below requirements
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51.3%
Offside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush
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50.9%
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2006. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Nissan Cabstar?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.