2005 Toyota Mr2 — MOT failures & pass rate
5,341 MOT tests on the 2005 Toyota Mr2 are in this dataset, and 77.7% of them passed. That is effectively the same as coupes & convertibles of a similar age (22.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 14.2% of tests against 9.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), headlamp aim and catalyst emissions — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 542 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.6% once past 150k — 3.9× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 29.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.4% in 2021 to 20.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.2% | 759 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 505 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 330 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.1% | 327 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.0% | 163 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 148 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 542 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 249 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 245 |
| 4 | Parking brake performance | 230 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 161 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 161 |
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 | 29.1% | 1,552 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.6% | 1,313 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.8% | 951 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 416 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 401 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 292 |
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 | 239 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,157 | 17.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,885 | 22.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,447 | 25.8% |
| 120-150k | 473 | 27.3% |
| 150k+ | 138 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,186 | 22.4% |
| 2022 | 1,162 | 22.6% |
| 2023 | 1,070 | 22.1% |
| 2024 | 1,003 | 23.3% |
| 2025 | 920 | 20.9% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Mr2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 14.2% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (14.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (6.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Mr2s pass their MOT?
77.7% of the 5,341 2005 Toyota Mr2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Toyota Mr2?
Brakes, recorded in 14.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.5%).
Does the 2005 Mr2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,341 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.