Which Ford models fail their MOT most
27.5% of Ford cars fail first time, against 24.5% across every make. That is 3 points worse than average, measured over 3,327,995 DVSA tests on 39 models.
Every Ford in the data
Sorted by how many tests each one contributes, so the models most people actually buy come first. A linked row has a page of its own.
| Model | Years | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiesta | 2014–2017 | 461,264 | 28.9% |
| Fiesta | 2010–2013 | 394,381 | 39.1% |
| Focus | 2014–2017 | 281,990 | 21.8% |
| Focus | 2010–2013 | 273,401 | 38.1% |
| Fiesta | 2018–2021 | 190,089 | 13.7% |
| Transit | 2014–2017 | 152,004 | 30.1% |
| Focus | 2018–2021 | 135,086 | 13.9% |
| Kuga | 2014–2017 | 124,526 | 19% |
| Kuga | 2018–2021 | 81,353 | 14.1% |
| Transit | 2010–2013 | 76,219 | 48.1% |
| Ka | 2010–2013 | 71,478 | 34.6% |
| Transit Custom | 2018–2021 | 63,023 | 21.3% |
| Mondeo | 2010–2013 | 62,866 | 35.4% |
| Mondeo | 2014–2017 | 57,801 | 20.6% |
| Ecosport | 2018–2021 | 57,175 | 13.6% |
| Transit Connect | 2014–2017 | 56,912 | 26.8% |
| Ka | 2014–2017 | 53,689 | 22.8% |
| Transit Connect | 2018–2021 | 43,683 | 24.5% |
| C-MAX | 2014–2017 | 43,186 | 20.7% |
| C-MAX | 2010–2013 | 42,734 | 31.7% |
| Kuga | 2010–2013 | 41,749 | 34.4% |
| Ecosport | 2014–2017 | 41,160 | 26.7% |
| Ranger | 2018–2021 | 39,994 | 20.3% |
| B-MAX | 2014–2017 | 36,335 | 25.1% |
| Ranger | 2014–2017 | 31,777 | 28.3% |
| S-MAX | 2010–2013 | 30,092 | 37.2% |
| Transit Connect | 2010–2013 | 22,610 | 44.8% |
| S-MAX | 2014–2017 | 22,289 | 25.3% |
| Transit | 2018–2021 | 22,051 | 23.4% |
| Ka | 2018–2021 | 21,053 | 11.8% |
| Galaxy | 2010–2013 | 19,026 | 41.6% |
| Grand C-Max | 2014–2017 | 18,641 | 28% |
| Galaxy | 2014–2017 | 18,221 | 27.6% |
| B-MAX | 2010–2013 | 18,118 | 33.1% |
| Grand C-Max | 2010–2013 | 14,377 | 36.7% |
| Mondeo | 2018–2021 | 14,018 | 15.8% |
| Transit Courier | 2018–2021 | 12,662 | 22.7% |
| Transit Courier | 2014–2017 | 11,523 | 34.4% |
| Transit Custom 300LIMITD Eblue | 2018–2021 | 11,215 | 20.6% |
| Fusion | 2010–2013 | 9,462 | 33.8% |
| Transit Custom 280LIMITD Eblue | 2018–2021 | 8,488 | 20.3% |
| Ranger | 2010–2013 | 8,413 | 38.2% |
| Tourneo | 2014–2017 | 8,412 | 29.2% |
| Galaxy | 2018–2021 | 8,090 | 19.2% |
| C-MAX | 2018–2021 | 7,653 | 16.8% |
| Fiesta St-Line Edition Turbo | 2018–2021 | 7,188 | 17.2% |
| Tourneo Connect | 2014–2017 | 6,927 | 21.4% |
| Puma St-Line X Mhev | 2018–2021 | 6,318 | 8% |
| Transit Custom 300LEADER Eblue | 2018–2021 | 6,291 | 26.3% |
| Edge | 2014–2017 | 6,278 | 15.4% |
| S-MAX | 2018–2021 | 6,064 | 19.6% |
| Fiesta Trend Turbo | 2018–2021 | 5,971 | 18.1% |
| Tourneo Connect | 2018–2021 | 5,446 | 20.1% |
| Puma St-Line Mhev | 2018–2021 | 5,429 | 7.2% |
| Fiesta Trend | 2018–2021 | 5,217 | 13.1% |
| Tourneo | 2018–2021 | 5,104 | 19.1% |
| Mustang | 2014–2017 | 5,029 | 17.4% |
| Mustang | 2018–2021 | 4,243 | 14.8% |
| Grand C-Max | 2018–2021 | 3,905 | 23.5% |
| Puma St-Line X First Ed Mhev | 2018–2021 | 3,749 | 6.9% |
| Fiesta St-Line Edition T Mhev | 2018–2021 | 3,704 | 12.4% |
| Focus St | 2018–2021 | 3,152 | 14.1% |
| Allied | 2018–2021 | 3,001 | 18.9% |
| Fiesta Titanium Turbo Mhev | 2018–2021 | 2,663 | 13.6% |
| Tourneo Custom | 2018–2021 | 2,567 | 19.8% |
| Transit Custom 280LEADER Eblue | 2018–2021 | 2,564 | 23.9% |
| Transit Custom 300 Trend Eblue | 2018–2021 | 2,544 | 22.6% |
| Puma Titanium Mhev | 2018–2021 | 2,197 | 7.8% |
| Transit Custom 300LMTD Eblue A | 2018–2021 | 2,155 | 18.8% |
How a Ford ages
The same manufacturer at three ages. Every make gets worse with age; what differs is how steeply, and that is the part worth knowing before you choose between a cheaper older one and a dearer newer one.
2018–2021
16.2%
805,105 tests
2014–2017
25.5%
1,437,964 tests
2010–2013
38.4%
1,084,926 tests
Best and worst in the range
Least likely to fail
- 7.2% Puma St-Line Mhev 2018–2021
- 8% Puma St-Line X Mhev 2018–2021
- 11.8% Ka 2018–2021
Most likely to fail
- 48.1% Transit 2010–2013
- 44.8% Transit Connect 2010–2013
- 41.6% Galaxy 2010–2013
Cohorts with at least 5,000 tests only, so a rare model cannot top either list on thin evidence.
What actually fails on a Ford
Pooled across the whole range and weighted by test count. One model's worst fault is a fact about that model; the same fault across the range is a fact about the make.
- 2.4% Tyres tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
- 2.1% Coil spring fractured or broken
- 1.7% Brake linings and pads less than 1.5 mm thick
- 1.5% Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment not working
- 1.5% Suspension arms ball joint excessively worn
- 1.2% Position lamp not working
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Check the actual Ford you're looking at
This page is the make. Type the registration and you get that car's own MOT history, its mileage record, its tax status and the questions to ask the seller before you travel.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023. Class 4 standard tests only. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Ford and its marks are the property of their owner and are used here to identify the manufacturer this page is about.