2005 Ford Galaxy — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Ford Galaxy passed 66.6% of its 14,221 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 30.0% of the time, so this is 3.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 20.6% of tests against 16.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, joints and position lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,796 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 34.7% versus 26.7%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 30.9% fail against 33.7% for diesel, a 2.8-point gap across 14,221 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 47.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.6% | 2,936 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 2,396 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.4% | 2,187 |
| 4 | Brakes | 15.3% | 2,176 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.7% | 948 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.2% | 735 |
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 | 1,796 |
| 2 | Joints | 1,217 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,093 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,049 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 997 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 900 |
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 | 47.7% | 6,781 |
| 2 | Brakes | 46.8% | 6,649 |
| 3 | Tyres | 33.1% | 4,712 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.6% | 3,354 |
| 5 | Other defects | 19.7% | 2,798 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.9% | 1,838 |
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 | 262 | 26.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,189 | 29.0% |
| 90-120k | 3,170 | 31.7% |
| 120-150k | 4,491 | 34.6% |
| 150k+ | 5,074 | 34.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,506 | 33.7% |
| Petrol | 1,715 | 30.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,784 | 33.3% |
| 2022 | 3,651 | 34.0% |
| 2023 | 2,659 | 33.0% |
| 2024 | 1,864 | 33.6% |
| 2025 | 1,263 | 32.0% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Galaxy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 20.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (20.6% 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 (16.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.4% 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 Ford Galaxys pass their MOT?
66.6% of the 14,221 2005 Ford Galaxy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Ford Galaxy?
Suspension, recorded in 20.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.9%).
Does the 2005 Galaxy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.7% in the 30-60k band to 34.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,221 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.