2005 Honda Fr-V — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Honda Fr-V passed 70.5% of its 8,723 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as MPVs of a similar age (30.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.1%) and suspension (17.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, position lamp and pins and bushes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 931 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 32.0% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 29.0% fail against 30.9% for diesel, a 1.9-point gap across 8,722 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 51.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 1,582 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.0% | 1,483 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 751 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.6% | 747 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.4% | 649 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 614 |
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 | 931 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 760 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 570 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 566 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joints | 543 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 493 |
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 | 51.1% | 4,454 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.7% | 2,767 |
| 3 | Brakes | 31.6% | 2,761 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 24.5% | 2,137 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.2% | 1,498 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.9% | 1,123 |
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 | 168 | 16.1% |
| 60-90k | 789 | 22.8% |
| 90-120k | 2,591 | 28.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,763 | 31.0% |
| 150k+ | 2,382 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,775 | 29.0% |
| Diesel | 1,947 | 30.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,656 | 29.6% |
| 2022 | 2,150 | 29.4% |
| 2023 | 1,641 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 1,299 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 977 | 29.9% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Fr-V
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.0% 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 (8.6% 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 Fr-Vs pass their MOT?
70.5% of the 8,723 2005 Honda Fr-V MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Honda Fr-V?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.1% of tests, followed by suspension (17.0%).
Does the 2005 Fr-V get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.1% in the 30-60k band to 32.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,723 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.