2005 Mercedes-Benz Motorhome — MOT failures & pass rate
270 MOT tests on the 2005 Mercedes-Benz Motorhome are in this dataset, and 84.8% of them passed. That is 12.4 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
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.0% of all tests — 5.9 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, ball joint and rear fog lamp — stop lamp alone was recorded 12 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2005 Motorhome fails 17.4% of the time in the 30-60k band and 15.4% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 35 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.0% | 19 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.1% | 11 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.1% | 11 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 4 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.1% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 12 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 12 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 10 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 10 |
| 5 | Outline marker lamp | 9 |
| 6 | Wipers | 9 |
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 | 24.4% | 66 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.4% | 55 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 30 |
| 4 | Tyres | 9.3% | 25 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 15 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 12 |
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 | 115 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 77 | 13.0% |
| 90-120k | 39 | 15.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 57 | 14.0% |
| 2022 | 49 | 8.2% |
| 2023 | 55 | 18.2% |
| 2024 | 55 | 14.5% |
| 2025 | 54 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Motorhome
On a 2005 Motorhome, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.0% 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 (4.1% 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.
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 Mercedes-Benz Motorhomes pass their MOT?
84.8% of the 270 2005 Mercedes-Benz Motorhome MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Mercedes-Benz Motorhome?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by brakes (7.0%).
Does the 2005 Motorhome get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.4% in the 30-60k band to 15.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 270 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.