2005 SEAT Toledo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 SEAT Toledo passed 69.3% of its 1,865 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (27.8% fail rate), the 2005 Toledo comes out 3.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.3%) and suspension (14.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, coil spring and headlamp aim — joints alone was recorded 154 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.8% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 31.8% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 30.5% of the time against 31.3% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 285 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.6% | 272 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.4% | 232 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 177 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.2% | 172 |
| 6 | Tyres | 8.4% | 157 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 154 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 153 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 137 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 118 |
| 5 | Flexible brake hoses | 97 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 97 |
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 | 39.5% | 737 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.9% | 670 |
| 3 | Tyres | 32.2% | 600 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.4% | 287 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 269 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.9% | 240 |
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 | 48 | 18.8% |
| 60-90k | 301 | 28.2% |
| 90-120k | 522 | 31.0% |
| 120-150k | 564 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 428 | 31.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,315 | 30.5% |
| Petrol | 550 | 31.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 626 | 29.4% |
| 2022 | 474 | 30.8% |
| 2023 | 359 | 32.9% |
| 2024 | 242 | 31.8% |
| 2025 | 164 | 29.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Toledo
On a 2005 Toledo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.6% 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.
- Brakes (12.4% 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.
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 SEAT Toledos pass their MOT?
69.3% of the 1,865 2005 SEAT Toledo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 SEAT Toledo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by suspension (14.6%).
Does the 2005 Toledo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.8% in the 30-60k band to 31.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,865 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.