2005 Toyota MR2 MOT pass rate: 73.8% (2,463 tests)
Is the 2005 MR2 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2005-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 74.1% +9.9 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 72.0% +7.8 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 75.3% +10.0 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 MR2
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 715 | 40.3% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 279 | 15.7% |
| 3 | Suspension | 253 | 14.3% |
| 4 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 229 | 12.9% |
| 5 | Tyres | 114 | 6.4% |
| 6 | Body, chassis, structure | 67 | 3.8% |
All MR2 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2,607 | 69.0% | +2.4 pts | 91,875 |
| 2002 | 3,074 | 68.6% | +2.8 pts | 90,792 |
| 2003 | 3,618 | 71.3% | +6.2 pts | 89,484 |
| 2004 | 3,447 | 71.4% | +7.0 pts | 84,091 |
| 2005 (this page) | 2,463 | 73.8% | +9.3 pts | 80,649 |
| 2006 | 2,183 | 75.6% | +11.1 pts | 67,303 |
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FAQs
Is a 2005 Toyota MR2 reliable?
2005-registered examples passed 73.8% of their MOT tests (2,463 tests, 2023–2025), +9.3 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 21 years old with a median 80,649 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2005 MR2?
The median tested example shows 80,649 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.