2005 Vauxhall Vectra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 21,529 MOT tests, the 2005 Vauxhall Vectra recorded a 69.0% pass rate. Against large family cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2005 Vectra comes out 3.2pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.2%) and lighting & signalling (16.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,952 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 22.5% in the 0-30k band and 31.7% in the 150k+ band, a 9.2-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 30.8% of the time against 31.0% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 41.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.3% in 2021 to 29.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.2% | 3,485 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 3,439 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.9% | 3,208 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 1,551 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 1,443 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.5% | 1,390 |
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 | 1,952 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,476 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,401 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 1,363 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 1,115 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 1,097 |
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 | 41.5% | 8,927 |
| 2 | Suspension | 40.5% | 8,723 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.3% | 6,530 |
| 4 | Other defects | 26.8% | 5,774 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 21.0% | 4,513 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.4% | 3,951 |
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 | 129 | 22.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,012 | 22.5% |
| 60-90k | 3,784 | 28.1% |
| 90-120k | 6,311 | 32.1% |
| 120-150k | 5,457 | 32.5% |
| 150k+ | 4,776 | 31.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 13,401 | 31.0% |
| Diesel | 8,128 | 30.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,581 | 32.3% |
| 2022 | 5,363 | 30.7% |
| 2023 | 3,928 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 2,768 | 30.4% |
| 2025 | 1,889 | 29.4% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Vectra
On a 2005 Vectra, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (16.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (16.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.9% 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 Vectras pass their MOT?
69.0% of the 21,529 2005 Vauxhall Vectra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Vauxhall Vectra?
Suspension, recorded in 16.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.0%).
Does the 2005 Vectra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.5% in the 0-30k band to 31.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,529 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.