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

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 Odyssey?

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 Odyssey?

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.

Is the 2005 Honda Odyssey reliable?

Based on MOT data from 118 vehicles, the 2005 Honda Odyssey has a first-time MOT pass rate of 80.3%, 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 Odyssey?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2005 Honda Odyssey are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (21.8% of vehicles), Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) (18.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (18.6% 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 Odyssey?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Honda Odyssey (2005)

118 real MOT outcomes analysed • 80.3% first-time pass rate

2005 Honda Odyssey

CarHunch analysed 118 real MOT records for the 2005 Honda Odyssey. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2005 Honda Odyssey passes its MOT at 80.3%, essentially matching the UK average, so reliability is broadly in line with what you'd expect from a 19-year-old vehicle. However, 16.1% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a real concern—you'll want a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic to check the braking and steering systems carefully.

At just under 100,000 miles on average, these Odysseys are moderately used for their age, suggesting many have had reasonable care. The typical car racks up 1.56 failures and 8.6 advisories per test, pointing to wear-related issues rather than catastrophic problems—expect to budget for routine fixes like suspension, exhaust, and trim. Before committing to one, request its full MOT history and ask specifically about any previous dangerous defect recordings.

We have limited data for the 2005 Honda Odyssey — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

80.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

16.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.56

Over 6.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

95k

Middle half: 63k–131k

For context

These stats describe 118 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 118 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 21.8%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front 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.

Suspension & steering 18.6%

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) · Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · …

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

Other issues 17.5%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Brake wear 12.1%

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.

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 118 Honda Odyssey cars.

Before you buy a 2005 Honda Odyssey

Based on MOT data from 118 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 16.1% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 2005 Honda Odyssey 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.

95,200

typical

63,107

low mileage

130,810

high mileage

Half of all 2005 Honda Odyssey vehicles fall between 63,107 and 130,810 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 63,107 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.

✓ 63,107–130,810 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2005 Honda Odysseys sit.

⚠ Over 176,593 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 Odyssey — Still on the Road

Most 2005 Honda Odysseys are still being driven.

33 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 73% of the peak remain.

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

6.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.56

Avg failures per vehicle

8.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1995 1996 2004 2006 2008 2014

Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

See how the 2005 Honda Odyssey stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?