2005 Vauxhall Combo MOT pass rate: 56.3% (6,976 tests)
Is the 2005 Combo getting worse?
Pass rate of 2005-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 55.6% -8.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 55.4% -8.8 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 59.1% -6.3 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 Combo
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 3,353 | 25.4% |
| 2 | Brakes | 2,749 | 20.8% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 2,511 | 19.0% |
| 4 | Body, chassis, structure | 1,177 | 8.9% |
| 5 | Tyres | 1,080 | 8.2% |
| 6 | Visibility | 807 | 6.1% |
All Combo years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1,598 | 54.6% | -11.1 pts | 137,318 |
| 2003 | 4,591 | 53.7% | -11.3 pts | 131,943 |
| 2004 | 6,223 | 54.5% | -9.8 pts | 136,543 |
| 2005 (this page) | 6,976 | 56.3% | -8.1 pts | 123,654 |
| 2006 | 10,374 | 54.3% | -10.1 pts | 124,158 |
| 2007 | 13,296 | 54.9% | -10.2 pts | 127,138 |
| 2008 | 15,779 | 56.5% | -8.7 pts | 124,216 |
| 2009 | 11,694 | 57.3% | -9.1 pts | 116,690 |
| 2010 | 19,857 | 63.2% | -4.2 pts | 100,261 |
| 2011 | 22,248 | 66.1% | -3.1 pts | 99,642 |
| 2012 | 8,697 | 59.1% | -12.2 pts | 112,332 |
| 2013 | 9,617 | 62.2% | -11.3 pts | 108,466 |
| 2014 | 14,433 | 64.6% | -11.3 pts | 101,685 |
| 2015 | 15,487 | 65.8% | -13.0 pts | 99,054 |
| 2016 | 15,191 | 67.9% | -13.5 pts | 90,302 |
| 2017 | 10,847 | 69.3% | -14.8 pts | 78,298 |
| 2018 | 8,870 | 74.6% | -11.8 pts | 62,335 |
| 2019 | 46,469 | 80.4% | -8.0 pts | 51,753 |
| 2020 | 23,623 | 79.7% | -10.2 pts | 47,098 |
| 2021 | 1,725 | 81.6% | -8.9 pts | 45,631 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Vauxhall Combo years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2005 Vauxhall Combo reliable?
2005-registered examples passed 56.3% of their MOT tests (6,976 tests, 2023–2025), -8.1 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 21 years old with a median 123,654 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2005 Combo?
The median tested example shows 123,654 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.