Used car guide

2005 Toyota MR2: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Toyota MR2 first registered in 2005: we looked at the 2,482 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,482MOTs of 2005 cars, done in 2023–2025
69%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 57%)
4,400typical miles a year
3.5×the usual rate for handbrake performance

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2005 Toyota MR2?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2005 Toyota MR2 than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Handbrake performance3.5× usual
    Toyota MR2
    4.5% All 2005 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, against 1.3% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull the handbrake on a slope. It should hold the car within a few clicks.

Better than most

Tread depth: 9.1% here, against 20.8% of all 2005 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 6.7% here, against 14.9% of all 2005 cars.

Common 2005 Toyota MR2 MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2005 Toyota MR2 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    36% 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.

  • Suspension
    30% 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.

  • Tyres
    20% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    19% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    9% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    6% 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2005 Toyota MR2

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

  1. Any recent work on the handbrake performance? (Flagged at MOT 3.5× as often on the 2005 Toyota MR2 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Toyota MR2?

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 MR2 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2007132Suspension 36%
20062,200Brakes 35%
20043,482Brakes 37%
20033,648Brakes 37%
20023,100Brakes 40%
20012,634Brakes 40%
20002,785Brakes 38%
1999890Suspension 30%
19981,220Brakes 29%
1997787Brakes 33%
1996621Brakes 28%
1995519Brakes 34%
1994609Brakes 30%
1993882Suspension 32%
1992902Suspension 37%
1991733Suspension 37%
1990746Suspension 33%
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Toyota MR2 cars first registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score