Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2005 Honda Fr V?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2005 Honda Fr V?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2005 Honda Fr V?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2005 Honda Fr V vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

51% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2005 Honda Fr V reliable?

Based on MOT data from 3,578 vehicles, the 2005 Honda Fr V has a first-time MOT pass rate of 74.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2005 Honda Fr V?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2005 Honda Fr V are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (87.7% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (80.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (76.4% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2005 Honda Fr V?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Honda Fr V (2005)

3,578 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74.6% first-time pass rate

2005 Honda Fr V

CarHunch analysed 3,578 real MOT records for the 2005 Honda Fr V. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2005 Honda FR-V passes its MOT first time only 74.6% of the time, below the UK average of 80%, and more than half of these vehicles (50.7%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant reliability warning for a nearly 20-year-old model. Petrol and diesel versions perform almost identically, both struggling around 74–75% pass rates.

With a median mileage of 83,314 miles for a 19-year-old car, these FR-Vs have been reasonably well-used but not excessively. The average vehicle racks up nearly 5 failures and 30 advisories per test, pointing to widespread wear across suspension, braking, and exhaust systems rather than isolated problems. If you're considering one, budget for repairs before purchase and have a trusted mechanic conduct a pre-buy inspection, as the odds of inheriting serious faults are genuinely high.

The 2005 Honda Fr V has a below-average first-time pass rate (74.6% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

74.6%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

50.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.84

Over 18.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

83k

Middle half: 69k–100k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 30 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 3,578 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 3,578 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 87.7%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 80.1%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 66.5%

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Suspension & steering 33%

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded · Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded · Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2005.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 3,578 Honda Fr V cars.

Before you buy a 2005 Honda Fr V

Based on MOT data from 3,578 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 50.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (76%)	2,715	74.4%	4.93
Diesel (24%)	857	75.3%	4.57

Colour Breakdown

Based on 14,467 Honda Fr V vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Grey 35.3%

5,100

Black 21.4%

3,097

Silver 20.7%

2,998

Blue 19.8%

2,870

Red 2.6%

377

White 0.1%

Gold 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2005 Honda Fr V vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

83,314

typical

69,207

low mileage

99,610

high mileage

Half of all 2005 Honda Fr V vehicles fall between 69,207 and 99,610 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 69,207 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 69,207–99,610 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2005 Honda Fr Vs sit.

⚠ Over 134,473 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2005 Honda Fr V — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 22% of 2005 Honda Fr Vs are still active.

Numbers are declining — 719 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (22% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

18.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.84

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Fr V: All Fr V years → Which year to buy? →

2004 2006 2007 2008 2009

Or browse all models: Honda →

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See how the 2005 Honda Fr V stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on