2005 Mazda Bongo/Friendee — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 370 MOT tests, the 2005 Mazda Bongo/Friendee recorded a 75.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2005 Bongo/Friendee comes out 3.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.7%) and suspension (14.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, integral vehicle structure condition and headlamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 58 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.2% in the 60-90k band and 38.0% in the 150k+ band, a 29.8-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 23.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.8% in 2021 to 16.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 58 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.1% | 52 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 29 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.5% | 24 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 17 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.4% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 58 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 30 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 25 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 21 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 20 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 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 | Suspension | 23.0% | 85 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.0% | 74 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 17.8% | 66 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.1% | 56 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 50 |
| 6 | Tyres | 10.5% | 39 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 61 | 8.2% |
| 90-120k | 97 | 22.7% |
| 120-150k | 48 | 20.8% |
| 150k+ | 137 | 38.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 206 | 36.4% |
| Petrol | 164 | 9.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 61 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 77 | 29.9% |
| 2023 | 82 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 77 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 73 | 16.4% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Bongo/Friendee
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.1% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.8% 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 Mazda Bongo/Friendees pass their MOT?
75.4% of the 370 2005 Mazda Bongo/Friendee MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Mazda Bongo/Friendee?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by suspension (14.1%).
Does the 2005 Bongo/Friendee get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 60-90k band to 38.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 370 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.