Ford Mondeo: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Ford Mondeo fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 4.5 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 194,314 individual Ford Mondeo tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 72.2% first-time pass rate means roughly 28 in every 100 Ford Mondeos presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Ford Mondeo tested had covered 113,856 miles and was built around 2012.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Ford Mondeo sits 4.5 points below the national average, ranked 1,702 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. See how it stacks up against the Ford Fiesta.

Looking at a specific Ford Mondeo rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see the median recorded closing bid for a damaged Ford Mondeo: £550 at UK salvage auction, from 43 ended listings, not independently confirmed sales.

Most common MOT failures on a Ford Mondeo

1. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 1.8% of tests (5.03x the national rate for this defect)
2. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 2.1% of tests (2.1x the national rate for this defect)
3. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3.1% of tests (1.87x the national rate for this defect)
4. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3% of tests (1.63x the national rate for this defect)
5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 3.2% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this defect)
6. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.3% of tests (1.47x the national rate for this defect)
7. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3.4% of tests (1.46x the national rate for this defect)
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 4.5% of tests (1.4x the national rate for this defect)
9. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 1.7% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 6.3% of tests (1.25x the national rate for this defect)

From 194,178 DVSA-tracked Ford Mondeo tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.41% of these flagged Ford Mondeo defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Ford Mondeo

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Ford Mondeo before it actually fails on it.

1. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 20.8% of tests (4.03x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
2. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 11.3% of tests (2.39x the national rate for this advisory)
3. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 5.6% of tests (1.98x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 2.6% of tests (1.89x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4.7% of tests (1.76x the national rate for this advisory)
6. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 2.3% of tests (1.54x the national rate for this advisory)
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 19.7% of tests (1.47x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 36.7% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 12.9% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
10. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 16.8% of tests (1.37x the national rate for this advisory)

From 194,178 DVSA-tracked Ford Mondeo tests, 2024.

Ford Mondeo pass rate by model year

From its 1999 to its 2021 model year, the Ford Mondeo's first-time pass rate has risen 21.9 points, from 65.3% to 87.2%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Ford Mondeo year:

• 1998 Ford Mondeo - 65.5% first-time pass, 238 tests
• 1999 Ford Mondeo - 65.3% first-time pass, 369 tests
• 2000 Ford Mondeo - 62.8% first-time pass, 662 tests
• 2001 Ford Mondeo - 62.2% first-time pass, 1,480 tests
• 2002 Ford Mondeo - 63% first-time pass, 1,707 tests
• 2003 Ford Mondeo - 61.7% first-time pass, 2,218 tests
• 2004 Ford Mondeo - 60.7% first-time pass, 3,753 tests
• 2005 Ford Mondeo - 61.6% first-time pass, 5,803 tests
• 2006 Ford Mondeo - 62.9% first-time pass, 6,988 tests
• 2007 Ford Mondeo - 62.6% first-time pass, 11,100 tests
• 2008 Ford Mondeo - 63.2% first-time pass, 14,263 tests
• 2009 Ford Mondeo - 65.7% first-time pass, 15,240 tests
• 2010 Ford Mondeo - 67.6% first-time pass, 15,669 tests
• 2011 Ford Mondeo - 70% first-time pass, 13,196 tests
• 2012 Ford Mondeo - 70.9% first-time pass, 15,804 tests
• 2013 Ford Mondeo - 72% first-time pass, 12,717 tests
• 2014 Ford Mondeo - 74.6% first-time pass, 11,748 tests
• 2015 Ford Mondeo - 82% first-time pass, 17,504 tests
• 2016 Ford Mondeo - 84.6% first-time pass, 16,234 tests
• 2017 Ford Mondeo - 86.7% first-time pass, 11,054 tests
• 2018 Ford Mondeo - 87.7% first-time pass, 7,079 tests
• 2019 Ford Mondeo - 87.7% first-time pass, 4,494 tests
• 2020 Ford Mondeo - 86.8% first-time pass, 2,091 tests
• 2021 Ford Mondeo - 87.2% first-time pass, 972 tests

Ford Mondeo by fuel type

The Ford Mondeo's two most-tested fuel types split by 2.7 points: diesel passes first time 72.9% of the time (152,062 tests) against 70.2% for petrol (37,491 tests).

• Diesel Ford Mondeo - 72.9% first-time pass, 152,062 tests
• Petrol Ford Mondeo - 70.2% first-time pass, 37,491 tests
• Hybrid Ford Mondeo - 88.5% first-time pass, 3,129 tests
• Electric Ford Mondeo - 87.5% first-time pass, 343 tests

Other Ford models

• Ford Fiesta - 71.7%
• Ford Focus - 74.4%
• Ford Transit - 67.6%
• Ford Kuga - 82.4%
• Ford Ka - 72.2%
• Ford Transit Connect - 72%
• Ford Ranger - 76.9%
• Ford C-Max - 74.8%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Lexus Rx300 - 72.3%
• Smart Roadster 80 Auto(Rhd) - 72.3%
• Mazda Bongo Friendee - 72.3%
• Ford Ka - 72.2%
• Nissan Note - 72.1%
• Ford Transit Connect - 72%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate