2005 Suzuki Jimny MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 60.4% of Suzuki Jimny cars first used in 2005 passed their MOT first time, against 57.6% for all cars first used in 2005. Across 5,120 Jimny first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were brakes, lamps and electrical equipment and body, chassis and structure.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Suzuki Jimny cars first used in 2005 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
60.4%
of 1,532 first tests; all cars first used in 2005: 57.6%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
5,120
first tests, 2023–2025; 1,532 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
24.9%
of 1,532 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
84,000
middle half: 66,000–103,500 miles; all cars first used in 2005: 105,500

How the 2005 Suzuki Jimny MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Jimny cars first used in 2005 against all cars first used in 2005 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Jimny figure was in line with the all-cars figure.

2005 JimnyAll cars first used in 2005
50%60%70%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2005, test year 2021: 54.6%All cars first used in 2005, test year 2022: 55.7%All cars first used in 2005, test year 2023: 56.3%All cars first used in 2005, test year 2024: 56.5%All cars first used in 2005, test year 2025: 57.6%2005 Jimny, test year 2021: 58.8%2005 Jimny, test year 2022: 58.3%2005 Jimny, test year 2023: 61.8%2005 Jimny, test year 2024: 59.6%2005 Jimny, test year 2025: 60.4%60.4%57.6%
View this chart as a table
Test year2005 JimnyAll cars first used 2005Jimny first tests
202158.8%54.6%2,152
202258.3%55.7%2,027
202361.8%56.3%1,867
202459.6%56.5%1,721
202560.4%57.6%1,532

Common 2005 Suzuki Jimny MOT failures

Share of the 2,014 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Brakes35.2%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment34.4%
Body, chassis, structure34.4%
Suspension30.0%
Noise, emissions and leaks29.9%
Visibility16.9%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems15.0%
Tyres6.1%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Chassis condition: or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting13.9%279
Prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced12.3%247
Position lamp: not working11.6%233
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction9.9%199
Service brake imbalance: across an axle9.7%195

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2005 Suzuki Jimny before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.
  2. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  3. Body and underside. Worth looking underneath with a torch at the sills, floor and mountings for corrosion, and at the rubber boots on the drive shafts for splits.

Common 2005 Suzuki Jimny MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2005 Jimny cars, as a share of all 5,120 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material20.1%1,028
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing11.0%561
Coil spring: corroded9.3%477
Fuel Pipe/s corroded8.0%411
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge6.7%345

Questions about the 2005 Suzuki Jimny MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2005 Suzuki Jimny?

In 2025, 60.4% of Jimny cars first used in 2005 passed their MOT first time, against 57.6% for all cars first used in 2005. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2005 Jimny most often fail its MOT on?

Brakes (in 35.2% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), lamps and electrical equipment (34.4%) and body, chassis and structure (34.4%). The single most common item was “Chassis condition: or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting” (13.9%).

How often does a 2005 Suzuki Jimny fail its MOT?

In 2025, 39.6% of first tests on Jimny cars first used in 2005 did not pass first time: 34.0% failed, and a further 5.5% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 2,014 of 5,120 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2005 Suzuki Jimny MOT advisories?

“Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (on 20.1% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (11.0%), “Coil spring: corroded” (9.3%), “Fuel Pipe/s corroded” (8.0%) and “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (6.7%).

Is a 2005 Suzuki Jimny reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 58.8% in 2021 to 60.4% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2005

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2005 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2005 MINI Hatch MOT statistics · 2005 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2005 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2005 Toyota Yaris MOT statistics

How the 2005 Suzuki Jimny MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2005 Jimny” means a Suzuki Jimny whose date of first use falls in 2005 (54, 05 and 55 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2005, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.