2005 Ford Ka — MOT failures & pass rate
22,547 MOT tests on the 2005 Ford Ka are in this dataset, and 65.8% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail 29.2% of the time, so this is 5.0pp 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 23.1% of tests against 15.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, pins and bushes and prescribed areas — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 5,227 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 44.1% versus 24.8%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 36.2% in 2021 to 32.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 23.1% | 5,215 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 3,464 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 2,118 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.8% | 1,760 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.4% | 1,676 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.7% | 1,499 |
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 | 5,227 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 1,964 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 1,896 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 1,580 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 1,441 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 1,281 |
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 | 39.4% | 8,881 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.1% | 5,889 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.3% | 5,024 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.5% | 4,392 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.0% | 3,605 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 2,295 |
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 | 3,308 | 24.8% |
| 30-60k | 10,549 | 33.1% |
| 60-90k | 7,064 | 38.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,441 | 41.5% |
| 120-150k | 145 | 44.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,705 | 36.2% |
| 2022 | 5,544 | 33.9% |
| 2023 | 4,121 | 33.1% |
| 2024 | 2,995 | 32.9% |
| 2025 | 2,182 | 32.1% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Ka
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 23.1% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (23.1% 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 (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.4% 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 Kas pass their MOT?
65.8% of the 22,547 2005 Ford Ka MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Ford Ka?
Suspension, recorded in 23.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.4%).
Does the 2005 Ka get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.8% in the 0-30k band to 44.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,547 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.