2005 Toyota Land Cruiser — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Toyota Land Cruiser passed 76.3% of its 11,281 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.2 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 25.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.6%) and suspension (11.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, joints and rigid brake pipes — position lamp alone was recorded 634 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.6% in the 0-30k band and 25.8% in the 150k+ band, a 7.2-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.1% 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 | 13.6% | 1,535 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.8% | 1,326 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.0% | 1,123 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.9% | 1,115 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 388 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.2% | 358 |
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 | 634 |
| 2 | Joints | 580 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 532 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 463 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 447 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 447 |
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 | 37.1% | 4,181 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.0% | 3,390 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.0% | 2,819 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 1,849 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.3% | 1,616 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.0% | 1,240 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 43 | 18.6% |
| 30-60k | 258 | 14.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,011 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,148 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,920 | 24.9% |
| 150k+ | 4,896 | 25.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,818 | 23.8% |
| Petrol | 454 | 21.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,606 | 23.8% |
| 2022 | 2,468 | 23.4% |
| 2023 | 2,270 | 23.4% |
| 2024 | 2,081 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 1,856 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Land Cruiser
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.8% 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 (10.0% 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 Land Cruisers pass their MOT?
76.3% of the 11,281 2005 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Toyota Land Cruiser?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by suspension (11.8%).
Does the 2005 Land Cruiser get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.6% in the 0-30k band to 25.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,281 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.