2005 Toyota Yaris — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Toyota Yaris passed 74.3% of its 119,971 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (28.9% fail rate), the 2005 Yaris comes out 3.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 21.8% of all tests — 10.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 13,803 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.2% in the 0-30k band and 29.3% in the 150k+ band, a 15.1-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 25.7% of the time against 25.7% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 41.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.8% | 26,125 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.0% | 13,235 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.6% | 11,537 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.3% | 8,719 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.5% | 5,403 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 5,362 |
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 | 13,803 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 10,626 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 8,265 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 7,714 |
| 5 | Wipers | 6,246 |
| 6 | Linkage pins and bushes | 5,402 |
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 | 41.3% | 49,598 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.8% | 35,692 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.5% | 31,816 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.9% | 22,641 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 16,084 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.5% | 13,745 |
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 | 3,479 | 14.2% |
| 30-60k | 21,963 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 37,534 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 33,342 | 28.3% |
| 120-150k | 16,193 | 29.5% |
| 150k+ | 7,330 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 110,742 | 25.7% |
| Diesel | 9,224 | 25.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 29,109 | 25.2% |
| 2022 | 26,395 | 25.2% |
| 2023 | 24,293 | 25.9% |
| 2024 | 21,653 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 18,521 | 26.1% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Yaris
On a 2005 Yaris, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (21.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.0% 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.
- Suspension (9.6% 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 Yariss pass their MOT?
74.3% of the 119,971 2005 Toyota Yaris MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Toyota Yaris?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.8% of tests, followed by brakes (11.0%).
Does the 2005 Yaris get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.2% in the 0-30k band to 29.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 119,971 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.