2005 Daihatsu Extol — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Daihatsu Extol passed 73.4% of its 647 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 1.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, emissions & environmental and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (11.8%) and emissions & environmental (10.7%) 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, catalyst emissions and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 136 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.2% in the 0-30k band and 29.7% in the 120-150k band, a 16.5-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 27.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.8% | 76 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 10.7% | 69 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 61 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.1% | 59 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 55 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.6% | 36 |
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 | 136 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 68 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 49 |
| 4 | Wipers | 38 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 31 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 31 |
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 | 27.5% | 178 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.4% | 177 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.5% | 152 |
| 4 | Tyres | 22.1% | 143 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.6% | 62 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.3% | 54 |
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 | 38 | 13.2% |
| 30-60k | 190 | 27.9% |
| 60-90k | 203 | 28.6% |
| 90-120k | 137 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 64 | 29.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 158 | 24.1% |
| 2022 | 156 | 28.8% |
| 2023 | 131 | 28.2% |
| 2024 | 111 | 27.0% |
| 2025 | 91 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Extol
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 11.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (11.8% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (10.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (9.4% 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 Extols pass their MOT?
73.4% of the 647 2005 Daihatsu Extol MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Daihatsu Extol?
Suspension, recorded in 11.8% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (10.7%).
Does the 2005 Extol get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.2% in the 0-30k band to 29.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 647 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.