2005 Vauxhall Corsa MOT pass rate: 57.1% (35,675 tests)
Is the 2005 Corsa getting worse?
Pass rate of 2005-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 56.5% -7.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 56.7% -7.5 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 58.6% -6.7 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 Corsa
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11,699 | 20.9% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 11,397 | 20.4% |
| 3 | Suspension | 10,219 | 18.2% |
| 4 | Body, chassis, structure | 7,262 | 13.0% |
| 5 | Tyres | 4,408 | 7.9% |
| 6 | Visibility | 3,856 | 6.9% |
All Corsa years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 9,679 | 58.4% | -8.1 pts | 74,785 |
| 2002 | 14,472 | 57.8% | -7.9 pts | 77,339 |
| 2003 | 21,910 | 57.1% | -7.9 pts | 78,116 |
| 2004 | 25,936 | 57.2% | -7.1 pts | 79,054 |
| 2005 (this page) | 35,675 | 57.1% | -7.3 pts | 79,844 |
| 2006 | 51,794 | 57.8% | -6.6 pts | 82,364 |
| 2007 | 99,538 | 62.9% | -2.2 pts | 89,505 |
| 2008 | 129,237 | 63.9% | -1.2 pts | 88,137 |
| 2009 | 139,514 | 64.9% | -1.5 pts | 85,750 |
| 2010 | 154,470 | 65.6% | -1.7 pts | 82,199 |
| 2011 | 174,178 | 67.6% | -1.6 pts | 79,703 |
| 2012 | 215,521 | 67.6% | -3.7 pts | 75,758 |
| 2013 | 215,198 | 68.4% | -5.0 pts | 70,738 |
| 2014 | 220,645 | 67.1% | -8.7 pts | 64,726 |
| 2015 | 260,137 | 71.8% | -6.9 pts | 59,178 |
| 2016 | 224,345 | 75.3% | -6.1 pts | 52,382 |
| 2017 | 154,256 | 77.9% | -6.1 pts | 44,602 |
| 2018 | 156,173 | 81.8% | -4.6 pts | 36,550 |
| 2019 | 124,597 | 85.2% | -3.2 pts | 29,280 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Vauxhall Corsa years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2005 Vauxhall Corsa reliable?
2005-registered examples passed 57.1% of their MOT tests (35,675 tests, 2023–2025), -7.3 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 21 years old with a median 79,844 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2005 Corsa?
The median tested example shows 79,844 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.