Ford: MOT pass rate and reliability

Ford vehicles pass the MOT first time 74.8% of the time, measured across 4,772,674 DVSA tests. That is 2.2 points worse than the 77% national average, ranking Ford 34 of 50 major brands sold in the UK.

Looking at a written-off Ford rather than a roadworthy one? The median recorded closing bid for a damaged Ford was £400, from 642 ended listings across every Ford model. These bids are not independently confirmed sales.

Bidding on a damaged Ford at Copart? Run the lot through the salvage profit analyzer for the repair cost, fees, VAT and your maximum bid. Buying a used Ford, damaged or not? Run its registration through the free vehicle history check first: these are brand averages, that page checks the exact car.

Every brand ranked

  1. Ferrari - 95.9%
  2. LEVC - 95.4%
  3. Aston Martin - 93.2%
  4. Bentley - 92.5%
  5. Porsche - 88.7%
  6. Lexus - 87.7%
  7. Tesla - 84.8%
  8. Maserati - 84.3%
  9. MG - 83.9%
  10. BMW - 82.5%
  11. Jaguar - 81.9%
  12. Abarth - 81.8%
  13. Audi - 81.6%
  14. MINI - 81.6%
  15. Toyota - 81.3%
  16. Land Rover - 80.6%
  17. Skoda - 80.6%
  18. Mercedes-Benz - 79.9%
  19. Suzuki - 79.5%
  20. Kia - 78.9%
  21. Hyundai - 78.8%
  22. SEAT - 78.7%
  23. Subaru - 78.6%
  24. Honda - 78.3%
  25. Dacia - 78.3%
  26. Volvo - 78.2%
  27. Jeep - 78%
  28. Smart - 77.6%
  29. Volkswagen - 77.1%
  30. Mazda - 77%
  31. Mitsubishi - 76.9%
  32. DS - 76.2%
  33. London Taxis International - 75.5%
  34. Ford - 74.8%
  35. Isuzu - 73.7%
  36. Nissan - 73.4%
  37. Peugeot - 73.2%
  38. Fiat - 73%
  39. Ssangyong - 73%
  40. Vauxhall - 72.4%
  41. Alfa Romeo - 72.4%
  42. Citroen - 70.8%
  43. Iveco - 70.2%
  44. Rover - 70.2%
  45. Saab - 69.1%
  46. Renault - 68.1%
  47. Chrysler - 67.2%
  48. Daihatsu - 67.1%
  49. Chrysler-Jeep - 67%
  50. Chevrolet - 62.8%

Ford models

Most common MOT failures across every Ford

Pooled across all Ford models, not just one: what actually fails on a Ford more than the UK average.

  1. 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, 1.9% of tests (1.96x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.6% of tests (1.9x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 1.7% of tests (1.55x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3% of tests (1.33x the national rate for this defect)
  5. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 1.6% of tests (1.26x the national rate for this defect)
  6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 5.9% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this defect)
  7. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2% of tests (1.17x the national rate for this defect)
  8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.4% of tests
  9. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.9% of tests
  10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 2.7% of tests

From 4,802,192 DVSA-tracked Ford tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.1% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories across every Ford

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. Pooled across all Ford models, this is a different list from the failures above.

  1. A stub axle swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn, 2.4% of tests (3.73x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 7.8% of tests (1.64x the national rate for this advisory)
  3. 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, 2.4% of tests (1.55x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  4. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 8.7% of tests (1.41x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  5. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.6% of tests (1.36x the national rate for this advisory)
  6. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 6.1% of tests (1.19x the national rate for this advisory)
  7. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 3.4% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this advisory)
  8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 28.7% of tests, also fails
  9. A tyre seriously damaged, 14.8% of tests, also fails
  10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 14.6% of tests, also fails

From 4,802,192 DVSA-tracked Ford tests, 2024.

More on brand reliability

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Ford MOT pass rate badge: 74.8%

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Ford most common MOT failure: 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 (1.9% of tests)

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/make/ford"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/make/failure/ford.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="Ford most common MOT failure: 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 (1.9% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>