2005 Dodge Ram — MOT failures & pass rate
639 MOT tests on the 2005 Dodge Ram are in this dataset, and 82.8% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 10.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.4% of tests against 8.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, catalyst emissions and individual direction indicators — ball joint alone was recorded 36 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.7% in the 0-30k band and 21.0% in the 150k+ band, a 4.3-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 22.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.3% in 2021 to 17.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 79 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.0% | 51 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 37 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.5% | 35 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.0% | 19 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 18 |
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 | 36 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 31 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 30 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 29 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 28 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
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 | 22.5% | 144 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.0% | 134 |
| 3 | Steering | 13.9% | 89 |
| 4 | Tyres | 9.9% | 63 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.9% | 63 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 59 |
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 | 30 | 16.7% |
| 30-60k | 97 | 15.5% |
| 60-90k | 204 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 133 | 18.1% |
| 120-150k | 72 | 19.4% |
| 150k+ | 100 | 21.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 521 | 17.1% |
| Diesel | 116 | 18.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 171 | 19.3% |
| 2022 | 126 | 20.6% |
| 2023 | 113 | 12.4% |
| 2024 | 111 | 15.3% |
| 2025 | 118 | 17.0% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Ram
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.0% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (5.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Dodge Rams pass their MOT?
82.8% of the 639 2005 Dodge Ram MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Dodge Ram?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.4% of tests, followed by brakes (8.0%).
Does the 2005 Ram get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 0-30k band to 21.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 639 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.