2005 Kia Carens — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Kia Carens passed 60.9% of its 1,589 recorded MOT tests. Against MPVs of a similar age (30.0% fail rate), the 2005 Carens comes out 9.2pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 26.9% of tests against 20.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), joints and position lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 351 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 33.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 41.8% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 39.9% in 2021 to 37.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 26.9% | 427 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.2% | 321 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 316 |
| 4 | Suspension | 17.0% | 270 |
| 5 | Tyres | 8.0% | 127 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.3% | 116 |
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) | 351 |
| 2 | Joints | 217 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 170 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 168 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 151 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 113 |
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 | 35.0% | 556 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.0% | 540 |
| 3 | Tyres | 32.4% | 515 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.9% | 427 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 22.5% | 358 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.0% | 207 |
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 | 289 | 33.2% |
| 60-90k | 617 | 40.4% |
| 90-120k | 447 | 40.0% |
| 120-150k | 154 | 42.9% |
| 150k+ | 55 | 41.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,210 | 39.3% |
| Petrol | 379 | 38.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 596 | 39.9% |
| 2022 | 387 | 39.0% |
| 2023 | 285 | 40.0% |
| 2024 | 182 | 36.8% |
| 2025 | 139 | 37.4% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Carens
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 26.9% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (26.9% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (20.2% 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+.
- Lighting & signalling (19.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 Kia Carenss pass their MOT?
60.9% of the 1,589 2005 Kia Carens MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 39.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Kia Carens?
Brakes, recorded in 26.9% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (20.2%).
Does the 2005 Carens get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 33.2% in the 30-60k band to 41.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,589 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.