2005 Volkswagen Touareg — MOT failures & pass rate
8,852 MOT tests on the 2005 Volkswagen Touareg are in this dataset, and 75.5% of them passed. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 24.9%, so the 2005 Touareg sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.9%) and suspension (12.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and position lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 656 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 26.0% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.9% in 2021 to 23.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 1,232 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.1% | 1,074 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.6% | 853 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.5% | 402 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.3% | 378 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 354 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 656 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 451 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 410 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 399 |
| 5 | Flexible brake hoses | 331 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 322 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 36.1% | 3,199 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.7% | 2,449 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 26.6% | 2,357 |
| 4 | Tyres | 25.6% | 2,268 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 1,282 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.8% | 1,130 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 72 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 494 | 17.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,818 | 24.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,974 | 24.1% |
| 150k+ | 3,467 | 26.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,460 | 24.8% |
| Petrol | 392 | 18.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,457 | 24.9% |
| 2022 | 2,145 | 24.2% |
| 2023 | 1,745 | 24.6% |
| 2024 | 1,399 | 25.2% |
| 2025 | 1,106 | 23.0% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Touareg
On a 2005 Touareg, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.1% 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 (9.6% 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 Volkswagen Touaregs pass their MOT?
75.5% of the 8,852 2005 Volkswagen Touareg MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Volkswagen Touareg?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by suspension (12.1%).
Does the 2005 Touareg get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 30-60k band to 26.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,852 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.