2005 Hyundai Elantra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 351 MOT tests, the 2005 Hyundai Elantra recorded a 66.4% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 6.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 23.9% of tests against 13.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), headlamp aim and service brake performance — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 50 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 38.8% versus 32.1%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 43.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.5% in 2021 to 31.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 23.9% | 84 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 48 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.7% | 48 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 25 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.8% | 24 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 21 |
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) | 50 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 24 |
| 4 | Pre 01/07/2008 Turbo | 21 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 19 |
| 6 | Anti-lock braking system | 19 |
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 | 43.6% | 153 |
| 2 | Suspension | 40.5% | 142 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.2% | 92 |
| 4 | Other defects | 18.5% | 65 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 56 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 35 |
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 | 56 | 32.1% |
| 60-90k | 101 | 31.7% |
| 90-120k | 97 | 32.0% |
| 120-150k | 67 | 38.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 116 | 34.5% |
| 2022 | 89 | 33.7% |
| 2023 | 62 | 32.3% |
| 2024 | 46 | 34.8% |
| 2025 | 38 | 31.6% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Elantra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 23.9% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (23.9% 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 (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.7% 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 Elantras pass their MOT?
66.4% of the 351 2005 Hyundai Elantra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Hyundai Elantra?
Brakes, recorded in 23.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.7%).
Does the 2005 Elantra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.1% in the 30-60k band to 38.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 351 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.