2005 Daewoo Kalos — MOT failures & pass rate
406 MOT tests on the 2005 Daewoo Kalos are in this dataset, and 66.5% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), the 2005 Kalos comes out 6.0pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 20.7% of tests against 17.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, pins and bushes and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 73 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 39.4% versus 27.5%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 41.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 35.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 43.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.7% | 84 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 69 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.3% | 46 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.6% | 43 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.4% | 38 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 31 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 73 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 35 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 35 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 34 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 25 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 24 |
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 | 41.4% | 168 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.9% | 109 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.6% | 108 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 22.9% | 93 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.2% | 70 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.8% | 52 |
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 | 167 | 27.5% |
| 60-90k | 136 | 39.7% |
| 90-120k | 71 | 39.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 151 | 35.1% |
| 2022 | 100 | 32.0% |
| 2023 | 67 | 31.3% |
| 2024 | 51 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 37 | 43.2% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Kalos
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 20.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (20.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (17.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.3% 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 Daewoo Kaloss pass their MOT?
66.5% of the 406 2005 Daewoo Kalos MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Daewoo Kalos?
Suspension, recorded in 20.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.0%).
Does the 2005 Kalos get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.5% in the 30-60k band to 39.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 406 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.