2005 Chrysler 300 C — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Chrysler 300 C passed 78.3% of its 345 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 5.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 14.2% of tests against 8.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), service brake performance and malfunction indicator lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 32 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2005 300 C fails 23.3% of the time in the 30-60k band and 21.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.7 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.2% | 49 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 28 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.5% | 26 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 19 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 13 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.5% | 12 |
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) | 32 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 19 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 19 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 18 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 14 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 13 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 27.8% | 96 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.8% | 82 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.0% | 69 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 30 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.0% | 24 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.4% | 22 |
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 | 30 | 23.3% |
| 60-90k | 156 | 23.7% |
| 90-120k | 81 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 33 | 21.2% |
| 150k+ | 37 | 21.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 75 | 18.7% |
| 2022 | 77 | 23.4% |
| 2023 | 74 | 18.9% |
| 2024 | 64 | 23.4% |
| 2025 | 55 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2005 300 C
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 14.2% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (14.2% 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 (8.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.5% 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.
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 300 Cs pass their MOT?
78.3% of the 345 2005 Chrysler 300 C MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Chrysler 300 C?
Brakes, recorded in 14.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.1%).
Does the 2005 300 C get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.3% in the 30-60k band to 21.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 345 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.