Used car guide

2005 Toyota Celica: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Toyota Celica first registered in 2005: we looked at the 1,208 MOTs these cars had during 2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,208MOTs of 2005 cars, done in 2025
62%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
5,600typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for suspension arm

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2005 Toyota Celica?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2005 Toyota Celica than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Suspension arm2.6× usual
    Toyota Celica
    10.8% All 2005 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.4% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)2.6× usual
    Toyota Celica
    5.9% All 2005 cars
    2.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.8%, against 2.2% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Wheels2.6× usual
    Toyota Celica
    4.4% All 2005 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.5% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Corroded fuel pipes4.3× usual
    Toyota Celica
    3% All 2005 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Brakes pulling to one side2.4× usual
    Toyota Celica
    3.8% All 2005 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 1.1% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.3% here, against 10.7% of all 2005 cars. Drive shaft (CV) joints: 1.7% here, against 7.3% of all 2005 cars.

Common 2005 Toyota Celica MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2005 Toyota Celica MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    44% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    37% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    32% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    27% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    16% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Rust and bodywork
    13% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2005 Toyota Celica

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2005 Toyota Celica as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the exhaust emissions (catalyst)? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2005 Toyota Celica as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the wheels? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2005 Toyota Celica as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Toyota Celica?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Toyota Celica compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2006882Suspension 39%
20041,264Suspension 45%
20031,118Suspension 47%
2002857Suspension 43%
2001727Suspension 47%
2000342Suspension 47%
1999297Suspension 45%
1998410Suspension 38%
1997272Suspension 35%
1996252Brakes 37%
1995188Brakes 38%
1994178Suspension 34%
1993–Too few tests
1992–Too few tests
1991–Too few tests
1990–Too few tests
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests
1981–Too few tests
1980–Too few tests
1979–Too few tests
1978–Too few tests
1977–Too few tests
1976–Too few tests
1975–Too few tests
1974–Too few tests
1972–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, counting the MOTs of Toyota Celica cars first registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score