2005 Honda Jazz — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Honda Jazz passed 72.8% of its 111,681 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.7 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 28.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.4%) and brakes (14.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and rbt (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 8,045 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.7% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 44.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 18,332 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.3% | 16,004 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.2% | 12,488 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.5% | 7,226 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 6,472 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.9% | 5,470 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 8,045 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 7,522 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 7,222 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 6,612 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 6,027 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 5,247 |
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 | 44.0% | 49,163 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.0% | 41,367 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.3% | 30,453 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.6% | 24,077 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.2% | 13,657 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.2% | 13,622 |
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 | 2,279 | 14.2% |
| 30-60k | 18,206 | 21.0% |
| 60-90k | 35,996 | 26.3% |
| 90-120k | 33,153 | 29.5% |
| 120-150k | 16,552 | 31.4% |
| 150k+ | 5,467 | 32.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 26,425 | 26.1% |
| 2022 | 24,224 | 26.1% |
| 2023 | 22,576 | 27.6% |
| 2024 | 20,555 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 17,901 | 28.4% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Jazz
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.3% 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.
- Suspension (11.2% 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.
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 Jazzs pass their MOT?
72.8% of the 111,681 2005 Honda Jazz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Honda Jazz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by brakes (14.3%).
Does the 2005 Jazz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.2% in the 0-30k band to 32.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 111,681 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.