2005 Vauxhall Monaro — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Vauxhall Monaro passed 85.8% of its 812 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 13.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.0%) and brakes (6.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, catalyst emissions and track rod end — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 33 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.7% versus 5.6%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 49 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.0% | 49 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 36 |
| 4 | Steering | 2.5% | 20 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.5% | 20 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 19 |
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 | 33 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 17 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 17 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 14 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 14 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 13 |
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 | 27.6% | 224 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.5% | 142 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.8% | 128 |
| 4 | Steering | 10.8% | 88 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 75 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 71 |
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 | 72 | 5.6% |
| 30-60k | 193 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 344 | 16.3% |
| 90-120k | 135 | 16.3% |
| 120-150k | 46 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 183 | 14.2% |
| 2022 | 170 | 12.9% |
| 2023 | 162 | 14.2% |
| 2024 | 153 | 15.7% |
| 2025 | 144 | 13.9% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Monaro
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.0% 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 (4.4% 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 Vauxhall Monaros pass their MOT?
85.8% of the 812 2005 Vauxhall Monaro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Vauxhall Monaro?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by brakes (6.0%).
Does the 2005 Monaro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.6% in the 0-30k band to 21.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 812 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.