2005 Kia Magentis — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Kia Magentis passed 75.0% of its 532 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2005 Magentis comes out 2.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.5%) and brakes (10.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — joints alone was recorded 51 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 29.3% once past 90-120k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.7% in 2021 to 13.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 61 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.7% | 57 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 53 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.0% | 48 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.2% | 33 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.1% | 22 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 51 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 38 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 26 |
| 4 | Washers | 23 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 18 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 18 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 32.3% | 172 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.3% | 145 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 25.8% | 137 |
| 4 | Tyres | 25.4% | 135 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.5% | 93 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.8% | 68 |
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 | 177 | 21.5% |
| 60-90k | 212 | 25.5% |
| 90-120k | 106 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 169 | 23.7% |
| 2022 | 139 | 30.2% |
| 2023 | 97 | 24.7% |
| 2024 | 75 | 26.7% |
| 2025 | 52 | 13.5% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Magentis
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.7% 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 (10.0% 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+.
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 Magentiss pass their MOT?
75.0% of the 532 2005 Kia Magentis MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Kia Magentis?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests, followed by brakes (10.7%).
Does the 2005 Magentis get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.5% in the 30-60k band to 29.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 532 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.