2005 Mazda Eunos — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Mazda Eunos passed 77.0% of its 348 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.7% of tests against 9.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and rear fog lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 25 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.5% in the 60-90k band and 24.6% in the 150k+ band, a 5.1-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 25.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.7% | 51 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.2% | 32 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.0% | 21 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 19 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.5% | 12 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.6% | 9 |
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 | 25 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 20 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 19 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 18 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 17 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 16 |
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 | 25.9% | 90 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.1% | 70 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 18.7% | 65 |
| 4 | Tyres | 14.7% | 51 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.2% | 25 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 18 |
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 | 77 | 19.5% |
| 90-120k | 101 | 19.8% |
| 120-150k | 84 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 65 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 74 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 76 | 19.7% |
| 2023 | 75 | 20.0% |
| 2024 | 63 | 31.8% |
| 2025 | 60 | 26.7% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Eunos
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.2% 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.
- Suspension (6.0% 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.
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 Eunoss pass their MOT?
77.0% of the 348 2005 Mazda Eunos MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Mazda Eunos?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.7% of tests, followed by brakes (9.2%).
Does the 2005 Eunos get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.5% in the 60-90k band to 24.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 348 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.