2005 Daewoo Lacetti — MOT failures & pass rate
450 MOT tests on the 2005 Daewoo Lacetti are in this dataset, and 70.7% of them passed. That is 1.8 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 (12.9%) and suspension (12.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, joints and stop lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 37 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 28.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.2% once past 90-120k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 29.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 58 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.0% | 54 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.6% | 52 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.7% | 39 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.6% | 34 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 27 |
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 | 37 |
| 2 | Joints | 30 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 25 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 24 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 24 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 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 | Brakes | 39.3% | 177 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.4% | 137 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.6% | 106 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.2% | 91 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 82 |
| 6 | Other defects | 18.2% | 82 |
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 | 32 | 28.1% |
| 30-60k | 158 | 24.7% |
| 60-90k | 168 | 32.1% |
| 90-120k | 71 | 35.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 162 | 29.0% |
| 2022 | 101 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 83 | 30.1% |
| 2024 | 62 | 32.3% |
| 2025 | 42 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Lacetti
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.0% 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 (11.6% 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 Lacettis pass their MOT?
70.7% of the 450 2005 Daewoo Lacetti MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Daewoo Lacetti?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.9% of tests, followed by suspension (12.0%).
Does the 2005 Lacetti get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.1% in the 0-30k band to 35.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 450 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.