2005 Vauxhall Agila — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 9,122 MOT tests analysed for the 2005 Vauxhall Agila, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 75.8% was above the average for city cars of a similar age (70.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 24.7% in the 150k+ group versus 16.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 1,168 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.3% | 844 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.5% | 685 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.5% | 596 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.0% | 550 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 493 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 642 |
| 2 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 535 |
| 3 | Wipers | 357 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 314 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 299 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 282 |
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% | 3,561 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.1% | 2,742 |
| 3 | Suspension | 29.2% | 2,663 |
| 4 | Other defects | 24.3% | 2,216 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.9% | 899 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 654 |
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 | 453 | 16.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,892 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 3,377 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,754 | 29.0% |
| 120-150k | 545 | 29.0% |
| 150k+ | 93 | 24.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,344 | 24.1% |
| 2022 | 2,055 | 23.4% |
| 2023 | 1,848 | 24.8% |
| 2024 | 1,553 | 24.1% |
| 2025 | 1,322 | 24.8% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Agila
Before buying a 2005 Vauxhall Agila, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 12.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (12.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.3% 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 (7.5% 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 Vauxhall Agilas pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 9,122 2005 Vauxhall Agila MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Vauxhall Agila?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.8% of tests, followed by suspension (9.3%).
Does the 2005 Agila get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.6% in the 0-30k band to 24.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,122 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.