2005 Chrysler Pt Cruiser — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Chrysler Pt Cruiser passed 69.1% of its 2,851 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.1 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.2%) and suspension (15.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 352 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 38.1% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.8pp more often than petrol ones (32.1% vs 30.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 45.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 520 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.7% | 448 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.4% | 411 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.8% | 164 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 153 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.2% | 147 |
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 | 352 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 270 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 222 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 168 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 152 |
| 6 | Anti-lock braking system | 151 |
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 | 45.2% | 1,288 |
| 2 | Brakes | 42.4% | 1,209 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.5% | 728 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.0% | 570 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 19.9% | 566 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 381 |
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 | 73 | 16.4% |
| 30-60k | 375 | 24.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,005 | 30.6% |
| 90-120k | 831 | 32.6% |
| 120-150k | 421 | 35.1% |
| 150k+ | 134 | 38.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,848 | 30.3% |
| Diesel | 995 | 32.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 851 | 31.4% |
| 2022 | 660 | 30.0% |
| 2023 | 559 | 31.3% |
| 2024 | 429 | 30.8% |
| 2025 | 352 | 31.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Pt Cruiser
On a 2005 Pt Cruiser, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.7% 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 (14.4% 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 Chrysler Pt Cruisers pass their MOT?
69.1% of the 2,851 2005 Chrysler Pt Cruiser MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Chrysler Pt Cruiser?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.2% of tests, followed by suspension (15.7%).
Does the 2005 Pt Cruiser get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.4% in the 0-30k band to 38.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,851 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.