2005 Fiat Idea — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 860 MOT tests, the 2005 Fiat Idea recorded a 68.6% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.5% of the time, so this is 3.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.9%) and lighting & signalling (13.8%) 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, headlamp aim and shock absorbers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 63 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 35.7% versus 26.2%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.9% | 137 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 119 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.9% | 94 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.7% | 66 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.4% | 64 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 52 |
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 | 63 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 54 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 51 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 48 |
| 5 | Wipers | 47 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 41 |
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 | 40.8% | 351 |
| 2 | Tyres | 35.8% | 308 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.1% | 190 |
| 4 | Brakes | 20.8% | 179 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 141 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.6% | 134 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 244 | 26.2% |
| 60-90k | 309 | 32.4% |
| 90-120k | 216 | 34.3% |
| 120-150k | 56 | 35.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 644 | 30.6% |
| Diesel | 216 | 33.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 301 | 32.2% |
| 2022 | 224 | 32.6% |
| 2023 | 148 | 29.0% |
| 2024 | 109 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 78 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Idea
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.9% 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 (13.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.9% 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+.
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 Fiat Ideas pass their MOT?
68.6% of the 860 2005 Fiat Idea MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Fiat Idea?
Suspension, recorded in 15.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.8%).
Does the 2005 Idea get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.2% in the 30-60k band to 35.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 860 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.