Ford Ranger: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Ford Ranger passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 0.2 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 112,918 individual Ford Ranger tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 76.9% first-time pass rate means roughly 23 in every 100 Ford Rangers presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Ford Ranger tested had covered 78,484 miles and was built around 2016.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Ford Ranger sits 0.2 points above the national average, ranked 1,554 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

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. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Ford Ranger 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 Ranger: £550 at UK salvage auction, from 5 ended listings, not independently confirmed sales.

Most common MOT failures on a Ford Ranger

1. An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.5% of tests (3.34x the national rate for this defect)
2. Warning device shows system malfunction, 1.3% of tests (3.08x the national rate for this defect)
3. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 6.6% of tests (2.89x the national rate for this defect)
4. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 1.9% of tests (1.79x the national rate for this defect)
5. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.9% of tests (1.48x the national rate for this defect)
6. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 1.8% of tests (1.46x the national rate for this defect)
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.4% of tests
8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 2.1% of tests
9. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2% of tests
10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.9% of tests

From 118,414 DVSA-tracked Ford Ranger tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.55% of these flagged Ford Ranger defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Ford Ranger

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 Ranger before it actually fails on it.

1. Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, 1.6% of tests (5.66x the national rate for this advisory)
2. A wheel bearing with excessive play, 2% of tests (3.13x the national rate for this advisory)
3. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 3.7% of tests (2.99x the national rate for this advisory)
4. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 2.1% of tests (1.61x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 9.3% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 24.1% of tests, also fails
7. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 8.5% of tests, also fails
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 6.6% of tests
9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 6.3% of tests
10. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 5.5% of tests

From 118,414 DVSA-tracked Ford Ranger tests, 2024.

Ford Ranger pass rate by model year

From its 2000 to its 2022 model year, the Ford Ranger's first-time pass rate has risen 23.4 points, from 65.4% to 88.8%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Ford Ranger year:

• 2000 Ford Ranger - 65.4% first-time pass, 448 tests
• 2001 Ford Ranger - 62.4% first-time pass, 559 tests
• 2002 Ford Ranger - 63.6% first-time pass, 736 tests
• 2003 Ford Ranger - 64.5% first-time pass, 1,019 tests
• 2004 Ford Ranger - 62.3% first-time pass, 1,725 tests
• 2005 Ford Ranger - 64% first-time pass, 1,995 tests
• 2006 Ford Ranger - 59.6% first-time pass, 2,436 tests
• 2007 Ford Ranger - 64.3% first-time pass, 2,950 tests
• 2008 Ford Ranger - 64.9% first-time pass, 2,151 tests
• 2009 Ford Ranger - 64.8% first-time pass, 2,369 tests
• 2010 Ford Ranger - 64.9% first-time pass, 1,464 tests
• 2011 Ford Ranger - 66.3% first-time pass, 1,606 tests
• 2012 Ford Ranger - 67.8% first-time pass, 2,008 tests
• 2013 Ford Ranger - 71.8% first-time pass, 3,128 tests
• 2014 Ford Ranger - 72.3% first-time pass, 4,222 tests
• 2015 Ford Ranger - 74.1% first-time pass, 6,483 tests
• 2016 Ford Ranger - 77.3% first-time pass, 10,871 tests
• 2017 Ford Ranger - 79.3% first-time pass, 11,173 tests
• 2018 Ford Ranger - 79.9% first-time pass, 14,710 tests
• 2019 Ford Ranger - 82.3% first-time pass, 15,202 tests
• 2020 Ford Ranger - 84.3% first-time pass, 12,190 tests
• 2021 Ford Ranger - 87.2% first-time pass, 17,231 tests
• 2022 Ford Ranger - 88.8% first-time pass, 500 tests

Other Ford models

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

Models with a similar pass rate

• Toyota Alphard - 77%
• Peugeot Horizon - 77%
• Honda Legend - 77%
• BMW 3 Series - 76.8%
• Peugeot Boxer - 76.8%
• Ssangyong Tivoli - 76.8%

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