2005 Hyundai Accent — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Hyundai Accent passed 71.9% of its 2,156 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail at 28.8%, so the 2005 Accent sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.1% of all tests — 5.0 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are joints, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — joints alone was recorded 167 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 37.1% once past 120-150k — 2.0× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 39.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.8% in 2021 to 26.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 348 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 241 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.6% | 229 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.9% | 213 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.5% | 141 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.3% | 136 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 167 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 165 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 156 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 128 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 122 |
| 6 | Wipers | 99 |
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 | 39.2% | 845 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.9% | 688 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.8% | 665 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.3% | 460 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.7% | 425 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.6% | 293 |
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 | 149 | 18.1% |
| 30-60k | 606 | 21.6% |
| 60-90k | 881 | 30.1% |
| 90-120k | 412 | 33.7% |
| 120-150k | 89 | 37.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 626 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 515 | 27.8% |
| 2023 | 415 | 27.5% |
| 2024 | 349 | 30.9% |
| 2025 | 251 | 26.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Accent
On a 2005 Accent, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.2% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Brakes (10.6% 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 Hyundai Accents pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 2,156 2005 Hyundai Accent MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Hyundai Accent?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (11.2%).
Does the 2005 Accent get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.1% in the 0-30k band to 37.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,156 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.