2005 Chrysler-Jeep Pt Cruiser — MOT failures & pass rate
578 MOT tests on the 2005 Chrysler-Jeep Pt Cruiser are in this dataset, and 68.9% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 3.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (17.6%) and lighting & signalling (16.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 64 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 37.3% versus 16.1%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 45.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.5% in 2021 to 28.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.6% | 102 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 97 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.9% | 69 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 36 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.5% | 32 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.8% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 64 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 46 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 46 |
| 4 | Wipers | 28 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 27 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 26 |
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 | 45.9% | 265 |
| 2 | Brakes | 41.3% | 239 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.2% | 157 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 23.2% | 134 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 96 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.3% | 77 |
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 | 31 | 16.1% |
| 30-60k | 86 | 25.6% |
| 60-90k | 160 | 28.7% |
| 90-120k | 150 | 33.3% |
| 120-150k | 126 | 37.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 367 | 30.8% |
| Diesel | 211 | 31.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 188 | 33.5% |
| 2022 | 142 | 30.3% |
| 2023 | 97 | 30.9% |
| 2024 | 88 | 29.5% |
| 2025 | 63 | 28.6% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Pt Cruiser
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 17.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (17.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (16.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.9% 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 Chrysler-Jeep Pt Cruisers pass their MOT?
68.9% of the 578 2005 Chrysler-Jeep Pt Cruiser MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Chrysler-Jeep Pt Cruiser?
Suspension, recorded in 17.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.8%).
Does the 2005 Pt Cruiser get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.1% in the 0-30k band to 37.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 578 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.