2005 Mazda 2 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,521 MOT tests, the 2005 Mazda 2 recorded a 73.5% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail 28.8% of the time, so this is 2.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests against 11.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 719 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.6% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 26.1% fail against 29.0% for diesel, a 2.9-point gap across 8,521 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 1,414 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.0% | 937 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.7% | 827 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.9% | 501 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.7% | 487 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 408 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 719 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 681 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 537 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 500 |
| 5 | Wipers | 416 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 386 |
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 | 34.9% | 2,972 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.1% | 2,821 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.3% | 2,492 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.9% | 1,781 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.9% | 1,358 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.1% | 1,118 |
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 | 245 | 16.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,942 | 19.7% |
| 60-90k | 3,155 | 25.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,100 | 30.5% |
| 120-150k | 866 | 35.4% |
| 150k+ | 212 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 7,483 | 26.1% |
| Diesel | 1,038 | 29.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,294 | 25.4% |
| 2022 | 2,009 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 1,667 | 26.2% |
| 2024 | 1,417 | 27.2% |
| 2025 | 1,134 | 27.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.0% 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.
- Brakes (9.7% 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.
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 Mazda 2s pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 8,521 2005 Mazda 2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Mazda 2?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by suspension (11.0%).
Does the 2005 2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.3% in the 0-30k band to 32.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,521 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.