MOT performance
Ford MOT pass rates and common failures
Across 8,887,606 MOT tests of Ford cars in 2023–2024, 68.4% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Fords failed 7% more often than comparable cars. Of the 21 Ford models with enough tests, the Ford Puma failed least often relative to comparable cars.
8,887,606 MOT tests on 4,628,718 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 68.4% | ±0 pts (95%), n = 8,887,606 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.07× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 8.7% | n = 8,887,606 |
| Average age at test | 9.6 years | n = 8,887,606 |
Ford models
Every Ford model with at least 10,000 tests, most-tested first.
| Model | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Fiesta | 2,842,979 | 66.0% | 1.14× |
| Ford Focus | 1,956,630 | 68.0% | 0.99× |
| Ford Transit | 617,551 | 62.3% | 1.16× |
| Ford Kuga | 563,605 | 79.6% | 0.90× |
| Ford Mondeo | 408,571 | 66.6% | 0.93× |
| Ford Ka | 370,138 | 67.5% | 1.15× |
| Ford Transit Connect | 338,158 | 64.9% | 1.14× |
| Ford C-Max | 302,383 | 69.2% | 1.00× |
| Ford Transit Custom | 266,195 | 77.9% | 1.12× |
| Ford Ranger | 211,022 | 71.6% | 1.09× |
| Ford EcoSport | 200,751 | 79.5% | 1.24× |
| Ford S-Max | 151,304 | 64.9% | 1.03× |
| Ford Galaxy | 125,639 | 63.2% | 1.08× |
| Ford Fusion | 110,939 | 59.1% | 1.01× |
| Ford B-Max | 109,334 | 71.2% | 1.16× |
| Ford Puma | 87,338 | 90.5% | 0.76× |
| Ford Tourneo | 55,719 | 75.6% | 1.11× |
| Ford Transit Courier | 51,128 | 70.9% | 1.29× |
| Ford Mustang | 23,925 | 83.2% | 0.91× |
| Ford Escort | 20,696 | 76.3% | 0.86× |
| Ford Edge | 17,851 | 84.8% | 0.79× |
Where Fords fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 14.3% | +22% |
| Suspension | 10.0% | +7% |
| Tyres | 7.1% | +8% |
| Brakes | 6.5% | -8% |
| Driver's view of the road | 5.0% | +2% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 4.0% | +13% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.6% | +5% |
| Steering | 2.1% | +8% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.9% | -11% |
| Road wheels | 0.4% | +1% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.4% | +3% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | +25% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Stop lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.74% |
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.05% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 2.67% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 2.11% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 2.04% |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 2.03% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 2.00% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.84% |
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 1.63% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.56% |
Pass rate by age
| Age at test (years) | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 1,067,214 | 84.2% | +7% |
| 5-6 | 1,305,087 | 79.8% | +7% |
| 7-8 | 1,439,981 | 73.1% | +8% |
| 9-10 | 1,270,122 | 65.9% | +8% |
| 11-12 | 1,030,920 | 60.3% | +7% |
| 13-15 | 1,331,519 | 56.0% | +5% |
| 16+ | 1,131,094 | 54.9% | +6% |
MOT failures where Ford stands out
Individual failure items that Fords record clearly more or less often than cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. All Ford MOT failure patterns.
- Stop lamp: not working · 1.78× comparable cars
Check a specific Ford
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.