2005 Toyota Celica — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Toyota Celica passed 74.1% of its 9,441 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (22.2% fail rate), the 2005 Celica comes out 3.7pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.3% of tests against 11.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 892 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.9% versus 20.4%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.0% 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 | 15.3% | 1,448 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 1,044 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.0% | 941 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 656 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 518 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.9% | 465 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 892 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 567 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 451 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 434 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 401 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 396 |
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 | 33.0% | 3,118 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.0% | 2,834 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.8% | 2,156 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.1% | 1,429 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 1,361 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.2% | 959 |
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 | 98 | 20.4% |
| 30-60k | 755 | 15.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,009 | 23.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,929 | 26.2% |
| 120-150k | 2,291 | 28.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,351 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,309 | 25.6% |
| 2022 | 2,091 | 25.6% |
| 2023 | 1,904 | 26.3% |
| 2024 | 1,641 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 1,496 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Celica
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.3% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Brakes (11.1% 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 (10.0% 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 Toyota Celicas pass their MOT?
74.1% of the 9,441 2005 Toyota Celica MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Toyota Celica?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by brakes (11.1%).
Does the 2005 Celica get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.4% in the 0-30k band to 30.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,441 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.