2005 Chevrolet Tacuma — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Chevrolet Tacuma passed 66.7% of its 588 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.8 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.6%) and suspension (14.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, prescribed areas and headlamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 84 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2005 Tacuma fails 31.0% of the time in the 30-60k band and 33.1% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.1 points.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 37.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.3% in 2021 to 26.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 86 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.5% | 85 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.4% | 79 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.2% | 60 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 52 |
| 6 | Visibility | 8.2% | 48 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 84 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 66 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 46 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 41 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 37 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 36 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 37.2% | 219 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.0% | 212 |
| 3 | Brakes | 35.9% | 211 |
| 4 | Tyres | 34.5% | 203 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 27.6% | 162 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.8% | 122 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 158 | 31.0% |
| 60-90k | 283 | 34.3% |
| 90-120k | 124 | 33.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 231 | 33.3% |
| 2022 | 151 | 34.4% |
| 2023 | 103 | 33.0% |
| 2024 | 69 | 34.8% |
| 2025 | 34 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Tacuma
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (13.4% 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.
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 Chevrolet Tacumas pass their MOT?
66.7% of the 588 2005 Chevrolet Tacuma MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Chevrolet Tacuma?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by suspension (14.5%).
Does the 2005 Tacuma get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.0% in the 30-60k band to 33.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 588 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.