2005 Honda Accord — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Honda Accord passed 73.5% of its 22,703 recorded MOT tests. Against large family cars of a similar age (27.8% fail rate), the 2005 Accord comes out 1.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.6% of all tests — 7.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,254 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.5% in the 0-30k band and 29.8% in the 150k+ band, a 11.4-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.8pp more often than petrol ones (29.0% vs 25.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 42.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.6% | 4,447 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.0% | 2,730 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.7% | 2,199 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.0% | 1,354 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.9% | 1,336 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 1,065 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 2,254 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,986 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 1,951 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1,421 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 1,205 |
| 6 | Wipers | 884 |
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 | 42.3% | 9,610 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.5% | 6,696 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.0% | 6,353 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 22.7% | 5,162 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.6% | 2,858 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.9% | 2,708 |
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 | 92 | 18.5% |
| 30-60k | 883 | 15.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,950 | 20.4% |
| 90-120k | 5,421 | 25.4% |
| 120-150k | 6,143 | 28.0% |
| 150k+ | 7,189 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 15,045 | 25.2% |
| Diesel | 7,657 | 29.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,229 | 26.3% |
| 2022 | 5,260 | 26.6% |
| 2023 | 4,424 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 3,730 | 26.4% |
| 2025 | 3,060 | 26.8% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Accord
On a 2005 Accord, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.0% 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.
- Brakes (9.7% 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.
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 Honda Accords pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 22,703 2005 Honda Accord MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Honda Accord?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.6% of tests, followed by suspension (12.0%).
Does the 2005 Accord get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.5% in the 0-30k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,703 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.