2005 Hyundai Coupe — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,255 MOT tests, the 2005 Hyundai Coupe recorded a 68.3% pass rate. That is 9.6 percentage points worse than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 22.1%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 20.4% of all tests — 5.1 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), position lamp and headlamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 612 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 35.1% versus 11.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.6% in 2021 to 29.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 20.4% | 1,072 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 804 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.3% | 594 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.0% | 420 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 392 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.2% | 376 |
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) | 612 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 301 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 296 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 283 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 277 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 274 |
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 | 36.9% | 1,938 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.3% | 1,645 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.7% | 1,297 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.9% | 1,100 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.5% | 1,023 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.2% | 696 |
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 | 114 | 11.4% |
| 30-60k | 670 | 22.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,750 | 30.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,824 | 35.8% |
| 120-150k | 683 | 34.0% |
| 150k+ | 211 | 35.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,702 | 32.6% |
| 2022 | 1,286 | 31.3% |
| 2023 | 981 | 32.5% |
| 2024 | 735 | 31.3% |
| 2025 | 551 | 29.0% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Coupe
On a 2005 Coupe, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (20.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.3% 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 Hyundai Coupes pass their MOT?
68.3% of the 5,255 2005 Hyundai Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Hyundai Coupe?
Brakes, recorded in 20.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.3%).
Does the 2005 Coupe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 0-30k band to 35.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,255 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.