2005 Bentley Arnage — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 703 MOT tests, the 2005 Bentley Arnage recorded a 90.8% pass rate. That is 18.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.6%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (5.5%) and lighting & signalling (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), malfunction indicator lamp and headlamp aim — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 24 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.8% in the 0-30k band and 15.0% in the 90-120k band, a 7.2-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 10.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 14.4% in 2021 to 5.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 5.5% | 39 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 30 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 14 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.8% | 13 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 10 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.3% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 24 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 12 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 4 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 9 |
| 5 | Washers | 8 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 8 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.5% | 74 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.3% | 65 |
| 3 | Tyres | 8.3% | 58 |
| 4 | Steering | 3.1% | 22 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.1% | 15 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 15 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 141 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 334 | 7.5% |
| 60-90k | 185 | 11.9% |
| 90-120k | 40 | 15.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 153 | 14.4% |
| 2022 | 142 | 7.0% |
| 2023 | 139 | 10.1% |
| 2024 | 143 | 8.4% |
| 2025 | 126 | 5.6% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Arnage
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 5.5% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (5.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (4.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (2.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2005 Bentley Arnages pass their MOT?
90.8% of the 703 2005 Bentley Arnage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Bentley Arnage?
Brakes, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.3%).
Does the 2005 Arnage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 15.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 703 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.