2005 Toyota Supra — MOT failures & pass rate
599 MOT tests on the 2005 Toyota Supra are in this dataset, and 85.3% of them passed. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (22.2% fail rate), the 2005 Supra comes out 7.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.3% of tests against 5.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and headlamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 43 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 17.0% versus 8.8%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 19.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.3% in 2021 to 9.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 50 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.2% | 31 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.5% | 27 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 26 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.3% | 20 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 43 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 26 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 24 |
| 4 | Washers | 20 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 20 |
| 6 | Wipers | 18 |
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 | 19.9% | 119 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.4% | 98 |
| 3 | Tyres | 13.7% | 82 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.8% | 59 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.7% | 58 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 38 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 34 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 119 | 11.8% |
| 90-120k | 212 | 16.5% |
| 120-150k | 113 | 13.3% |
| 150k+ | 118 | 17.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 145 | 19.3% |
| 2022 | 144 | 16.7% |
| 2023 | 132 | 12.1% |
| 2024 | 91 | 13.2% |
| 2025 | 87 | 9.2% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Supra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.2% 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.
- Visibility (4.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Supras pass their MOT?
85.3% of the 599 2005 Toyota Supra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Toyota Supra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.3% of tests, followed by brakes (5.2%).
Does the 2005 Supra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 30-60k band to 17.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 599 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.