2005 Toyota Lucida — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 300 MOT tests, the 2005 Toyota Lucida recorded a 71.0% pass rate. That is 1.5 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.3% of all tests — 4.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, rear fog lamp and wipers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 26 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 28.1% of 90-120k cars fail, rising to 33.6% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 39.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.9% in 2021 to 23.6% in 2023, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.3% | 58 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.0% | 45 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.7% | 44 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 28 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 21 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.0% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 26 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 25 |
| 3 | Wipers | 22 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 19 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 16 |
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 | 39.0% | 117 |
| 2 | Suspension | 38.0% | 114 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.0% | 75 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 23.0% | 69 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.7% | 47 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 46 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90-120k | 57 | 28.1% |
| 120-150k | 85 | 21.2% |
| 150k+ | 143 | 33.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 112 | 33.9% |
| 2022 | 80 | 25.0% |
| 2023 | 55 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Lucida
On a 2005 Lucida, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.0% 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.
- Brakes (14.7% 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 Lucidas pass their MOT?
71.0% of the 300 2005 Toyota Lucida MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Toyota Lucida?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests, followed by suspension (15.0%).
Does the 2005 Lucida get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.1% in the 90-120k band to 33.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 300 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.