2005 Vauxhall Corsa — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 109,967 MOT tests analysed for the 2005 Vauxhall Corsa, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 68.1% was below the average for superminis of a similar age (71.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 33.5% in the 150k+ group versus 23.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 18,603 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.6% | 17,109 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.1% | 14,440 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.2% | 13,407 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.9% | 8,735 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.0% | 7,665 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 10,460 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 8,287 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 7,764 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 7,322 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 6,365 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 5,578 |
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 | 31.7% | 34,848 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.7% | 33,792 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.4% | 31,196 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.2% | 25,507 |
| 5 | Other defects | 20.5% | 22,584 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 18.1% | 19,938 |
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 | 3,684 | 23.3% |
| 30-60k | 23,018 | 27.9% |
| 60-90k | 40,492 | 32.2% |
| 90-120k | 29,168 | 34.4% |
| 120-150k | 9,787 | 34.8% |
| 150k+ | 2,475 | 33.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 103,649 | 31.9% |
| Diesel | 6,310 | 32.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34,124 | 32.9% |
| 2022 | 26,384 | 31.9% |
| 2023 | 21,015 | 31.6% |
| 2024 | 16,322 | 31.5% |
| 2025 | 12,122 | 30.7% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Corsa
Before buying a 2005 Vauxhall Corsa, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 16.9% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (16.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.6% 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.
- Brakes (13.1% 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 Corsas pass their MOT?
68.1% of the 109,967 2005 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Vauxhall Corsa?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.9% of tests, followed by suspension (15.6%).
Does the 2005 Corsa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.3% in the 0-30k band to 33.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 109,967 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.