2005 Ford Mustang — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Ford Mustang passed 85.5% of its 1,786 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 22.3% of the time, so this is 7.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.1%) and brakes (6.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), catalyst emissions and individual direction indicators — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 77 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2005 Mustang fails 10.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.7 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 19.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.0% in 2021 to 13.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 162 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.7% | 119 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 74 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.7% | 66 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.2% | 40 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.0% | 35 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 77 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 61 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 50 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 49 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 48 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 47 |
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 | 19.8% | 353 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.9% | 267 |
| 3 | Tyres | 13.4% | 240 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.0% | 125 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 117 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 116 |
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 | 229 | 10.5% |
| 30-60k | 587 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 508 | 16.5% |
| 90-120k | 249 | 14.9% |
| 120-150k | 161 | 23.0% |
| 150k+ | 51 | 9.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 301 | 16.0% |
| 2022 | 384 | 13.8% |
| 2023 | 393 | 16.5% |
| 2024 | 357 | 12.3% |
| 2025 | 351 | 13.7% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Mustang
On a 2005 Mustang, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.7% 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 (4.1% 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 Ford Mustangs pass their MOT?
85.5% of the 1,786 2005 Ford Mustang MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Ford Mustang?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.1% of tests, followed by brakes (6.7%).
Does the 2005 Mustang get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.5% in the 0-30k band to 9.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,786 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.