Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2006 Proton Gen 2?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2006 Proton Gen 2?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2006 Proton Gen 2?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2006 Proton Gen 2 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

33% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2006 Proton Gen 2 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,035 vehicles, the 2006 Proton Gen 2 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2006 Proton Gen 2?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2006 Proton Gen 2 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (65.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (61.8% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (49.9% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2006 Proton Gen 2?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Proton Gen 2 (2006)

1,035 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.2% first-time pass rate

2006 Proton Gen 2

CarHunch analysed 1,035 real MOT records for the 2006 Proton Gen 2. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2006 Proton Gen-2 is a below-average prospect for reliability, with a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.2% against the UK average of 80%, and a concerning 32.5% of vehicles having recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above what you'd want to see. This suggests structural or safety issues that go beyond routine wear, making it a model you should inspect very carefully before purchase.

At nearly 50,000 miles median mileage for an 18-year-old car, these are relatively low-mileage examples, yet they're still averaging 3.72 failures and 14.4 advisories per test, indicating that age and design weakness matter more than usage here. If you're considering one, budget for significant remedial work and get a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, steering, and brake components—the high failure rate suggests these are where problems cluster.

The 2006 Proton Gen 2 has a below-average first-time pass rate (72.2% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

72.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

32.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.72

Over 12.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

48k

Middle half: 36k–61k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 14.4 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 1,035 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,035 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 65.9%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 49.9%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 26.6%

Oil leak · Oil leak, but not excessive · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Wipers & washers 16.1%

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively · Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2006.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,035 Proton Gen 2 cars.

Before you buy a 2006 Proton Gen 2

Based on MOT data from 1,035 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 32.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	1,030	72.2%	3.72

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,763 Proton Gen 2 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 22.7%

1,080

Black 15.9%

757

Red 14.9%

712

Silver 12.5%

593

Grey 10.5%

500

Orange 10.4%

494

Gold 5.8%

278

Purple 4.9%

232

Yellow 1.7%

White 0.5%

Beige 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2006 Proton Gen 2 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

47,798

typical

35,600

low mileage

61,371

high mileage

Half of all 2006 Proton Gen 2 vehicles fall between 35,600 and 61,371 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 35,600 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 35,600–61,371 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2006 Proton Gen 2s sit.

⚠ Over 82,850 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2006 Proton Gen 2 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 5% of 2006 Proton Gen 2s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 47 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024 (5% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2024.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.72

Avg failures per vehicle

14.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Proton Gen 2: All Gen 2 years → Which year to buy? →

2004 2005 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

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See how the 2006 Proton Gen 2 stacks up against a rival.

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