2005 Daihatsu Copen — MOT failures & pass rate
762 MOT tests on the 2005 Daihatsu Copen are in this dataset, and 74.3% of them passed. That is 1.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.6%. Failures cluster in suspension, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 13.4% of all tests — 4.5 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, integral vehicle structure condition and chassis condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 150 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 36.1% versus 13.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.4% | 102 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 68 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 68 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 53 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 36 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.3% | 33 |
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 | 150 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 57 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 47 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 45 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 33 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
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 | 27.4% | 209 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.7% | 158 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.4% | 148 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.0% | 99 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 51 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 44 |
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 | 81 | 13.6% |
| 30-60k | 399 | 24.8% |
| 60-90k | 186 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 72 | 36.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 158 | 22.1% |
| 2022 | 170 | 27.1% |
| 2023 | 158 | 27.9% |
| 2024 | 134 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 142 | 28.9% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Copen
On a 2005 Copen, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.4% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.9% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Lighting & signalling (8.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 Daihatsu Copens pass their MOT?
74.3% of the 762 2005 Daihatsu Copen MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Daihatsu Copen?
Suspension, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (8.9%).
Does the 2005 Copen get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.6% in the 0-30k band to 36.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 762 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.