2005 TVR Tuscan — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 TVR Tuscan passed 94.9% of its 454 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2005 Tuscan comes out 22.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.2%) and emissions & environmental (2.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, washers and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 26 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2005 Tuscan fails 4.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 2.6% at 60-90k, a spread of only 1.4 points.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 19 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 13 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.4% | 11 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 4 |
| 5 | Steering | 0.4% | 2 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.4% | 2 |
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 | 26 |
| 2 | Washers | 11 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 6 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 5 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 4 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 3 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.4% | 20 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.1% | 14 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.0% | 9 |
| 4 | Steering | 2.0% | 9 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 6 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 4 |
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 | 126 | 4.0% |
| 30-60k | 274 | 5.1% |
| 60-90k | 39 | 2.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 87 | 4.6% |
| 2022 | 89 | 4.5% |
| 2023 | 92 | 6.5% |
| 2024 | 93 | 6.5% |
| 2025 | 93 | 3.2% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Tuscan
On a 2005 Tuscan, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (4.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (2.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (2.4% 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 TVR Tuscans pass their MOT?
94.9% of the 454 2005 TVR Tuscan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 TVR Tuscan?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (2.9%).
Does the 2005 Tuscan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.0% in the 0-30k band to 2.6% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 454 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.