2005 Ford Mondeo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 52,761 MOT tests analysed for the 2005 Ford Mondeo, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 70.3% was below the average for large family cars of a similar age (72.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.9% in the 150k+ group versus 16.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.9% | 8,367 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 7,292 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.8% | 7,270 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 3,769 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 3,433 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.2% | 3,268 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,724 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 3,424 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 2,780 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,143 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 2,050 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 1,955 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 47.0% | 24,796 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.0% | 19,523 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.6% | 15,605 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.5% | 8,719 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.6% | 8,248 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 7,919 |
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 | 297 | 16.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,995 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 8,914 | 25.6% |
| 90-120k | 14,720 | 30.0% |
| 120-150k | 13,213 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 12,591 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 27,308 | 31.3% |
| Petrol | 25,450 | 28.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,484 | 30.5% |
| 2022 | 12,726 | 29.4% |
| 2023 | 10,021 | 29.6% |
| 2024 | 7,647 | 29.3% |
| 2025 | 5,883 | 29.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Mondeo
Before buying a 2005 Ford Mondeo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 15.9% of tests for this year.
- 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.
- Brakes (13.8% 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 Ford Mondeos pass their MOT?
70.3% of the 52,761 2005 Ford Mondeo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Ford Mondeo?
Suspension, recorded in 15.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.8%).
Does the 2005 Mondeo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.5% in the 0-30k band to 32.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 52,761 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.