2005 Daihatsu Sirion — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,194 MOT tests, the 2005 Daihatsu Sirion recorded a 73.1% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 29.4% of the time, so this is 2.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 16.2% of tests against 11.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, component mounting prescribed areas and wipers — ball joint alone was recorded 509 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 38.7% versus 12.0%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 41.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.1% 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 | 16.2% | 840 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 597 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.1% | 371 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 308 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.7% | 298 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.5% | 233 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 509 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 317 |
| 3 | Wipers | 248 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 245 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 204 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 198 |
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 | 41.0% | 2,129 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.8% | 1,550 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.7% | 1,334 |
| 4 | Other defects | 17.9% | 928 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.4% | 849 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 811 |
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 | 166 | 12.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,476 | 22.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,024 | 28.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,126 | 29.8% |
| 120-150k | 326 | 30.7% |
| 150k+ | 75 | 38.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,291 | 26.1% |
| 2022 | 1,157 | 26.4% |
| 2023 | 1,030 | 26.2% |
| 2024 | 919 | 27.8% |
| 2025 | 797 | 28.9% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Sirion
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.2% 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 (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.1% 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 Daihatsu Sirions pass their MOT?
73.1% of the 5,194 2005 Daihatsu Sirion MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Daihatsu Sirion?
Suspension, recorded in 16.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.5%).
Does the 2005 Sirion get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.0% in the 0-30k band to 38.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,194 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.