2005 Nissan Navara — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Nissan Navara passed 70.0% of its 10,972 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as pick-up trucks of a similar age (29.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.2%) and body, structure & corrosion (14.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are chassis condition, service brake performance and component mounting prescribed areas — chassis condition alone was recorded 1,059 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.9% in the 0-30k band and 31.9% in the 150k+ band, a 15.9-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 1,889 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 1,586 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.1% | 1,548 |
| 4 | Brakes | 14.1% | 1,547 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.2% | 899 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.6% | 504 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chassis condition | 1,059 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 891 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 850 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 767 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 683 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 676 |
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 | 35.4% | 3,881 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.7% | 3,804 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 30.4% | 3,337 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 2,184 |
| 5 | Tyres | 19.1% | 2,098 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.7% | 1,502 |
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 | 69 | 15.9% |
| 30-60k | 375 | 21.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,288 | 28.0% |
| 90-120k | 2,389 | 28.0% |
| 120-150k | 2,989 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 3,837 | 31.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,251 | 29.4% |
| 2022 | 2,776 | 31.0% |
| 2023 | 2,091 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 1,618 | 30.3% |
| 2025 | 1,236 | 30.4% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Navara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.4% 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+.
- 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.
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 Nissan Navaras pass their MOT?
70.0% of the 10,972 2005 Nissan Navara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Nissan Navara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (14.4%).
Does the 2005 Navara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.9% in the 0-30k band to 31.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,972 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.