2005 Toyota Corolla MOT pass rate: 70.7% (33,632 tests)
Is the 2005 Corolla getting worse?
Pass rate of 2005-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 70.8% +6.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 70.7% +6.5 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 70.3% +5.0 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2005 Corolla
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 9,573 | 29.8% |
| 2 | Brakes | 9,135 | 28.5% |
| 3 | Suspension | 3,910 | 12.2% |
| 4 | Tyres | 2,353 | 7.3% |
| 5 | Visibility | 2,174 | 6.8% |
| 6 | Body, chassis, structure | 1,901 | 5.9% |
All Corolla years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 6,018 | 71.1% | +4.5 pts | 92,730 |
| 2002 | 10,929 | 69.7% | +4.0 pts | 99,732 |
| 2003 | 16,348 | 66.7% | +1.7 pts | 100,401 |
| 2004 | 21,791 | 66.9% | +2.6 pts | 102,294 |
| 2005 (this page) | 33,632 | 70.7% | +6.2 pts | 103,276 |
| 2006 | 37,509 | 72.7% | +8.3 pts | 100,514 |
| 2007 | 13,644 | 73.7% | +8.6 pts | 114,024 |
| 2008 | 9,862 | 74.9% | +9.7 pts | 119,855 |
| 2009 | 3,817 | 74.9% | +8.5 pts | 111,750 |
| 2019 | 46,465 | 92.3% | +3.9 pts | 45,441 |
| 2020 | 4,628 | 93.3% | +3.5 pts | 45,396 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Toyota Corolla years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2005 Toyota Corolla reliable?
2005-registered examples passed 70.7% of their MOT tests (33,632 tests, 2023–2025), +6.2 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 21 years old with a median 103,276 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2005 Corolla?
The median tested example shows 103,276 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.