2005 Toyota Avensis — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Toyota Avensis passed 75.5% of its 29,003 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail 27.8% of the time, so this is 3.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.4% of tests against 11.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, coil spring and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 2,909 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.5% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 23.8% fail against 26.3% for diesel, a 2.5-point gap across 29,001 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.8% 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 | 18.4% | 5,345 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.2% | 3,240 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.5% | 2,765 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.8% | 1,682 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.3% | 1,522 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 1,517 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 2,909 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,752 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,727 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,567 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,452 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,195 |
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 | 34.8% | 10,089 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.5% | 8,836 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.2% | 7,585 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.9% | 5,185 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.9% | 4,320 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.1% | 3,204 |
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 | 119 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,478 | 13.7% |
| 60-90k | 4,986 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 8,207 | 23.7% |
| 120-150k | 7,073 | 27.0% |
| 150k+ | 7,137 | 28.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 20,639 | 23.8% |
| Diesel | 8,362 | 26.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,220 | 24.5% |
| 2022 | 6,871 | 24.3% |
| 2023 | 5,709 | 24.2% |
| 2024 | 4,550 | 24.8% |
| 2025 | 3,653 | 25.1% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Avensis
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.2% 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 (9.5% 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 Toyota Avensiss pass their MOT?
75.5% of the 29,003 2005 Toyota Avensis MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Toyota Avensis?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.4% of tests, followed by suspension (11.2%).
Does the 2005 Avensis get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 28.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 29,003 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.