2005 Piaggio Porter — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Piaggio Porter passed 70.4% of its 284 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.0 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.7%) and brakes (15.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, wipers and headlamp aim — service brake performance alone was recorded 36 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 24.2% in the 0-30k band and 31.3% in the 90-120k band, a 7.0-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.4% in 2021 to 26.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.7% | 53 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.8% | 45 |
| 3 | Visibility | 12.3% | 35 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.2% | 26 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 25 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 36 |
| 2 | Wipers | 25 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 20 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 19 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 18 |
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 | 31.7% | 90 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.3% | 86 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 26.8% | 76 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.1% | 60 |
| 5 | Tyres | 20.1% | 57 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.8% | 42 |
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 | 66 | 24.2% |
| 30-60k | 144 | 31.9% |
| 60-90k | 42 | 28.6% |
| 90-120k | 32 | 31.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 165 | 29.1% |
| Diesel | 119 | 30.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 67 | 28.4% |
| 2022 | 64 | 32.8% |
| 2023 | 62 | 30.6% |
| 2024 | 46 | 28.3% |
| 2025 | 45 | 26.7% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Porter
On a 2005 Porter, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (15.8% 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.
- Visibility (12.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Piaggio Porters pass their MOT?
70.4% of the 284 2005 Piaggio Porter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Piaggio Porter?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.7% of tests, followed by brakes (15.8%).
Does the 2005 Porter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.2% in the 0-30k band to 31.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 284 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.