18.7%
Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge
A tyre is worn, cut, damaged or otherwise not fit for the road. Tyres are the only thing connecting the car to the road, so this is always worth taking seriously.
FordUsed-car reliability
How reliable is a used Ford?
At 7 years old, the average Ford fails its MOT less often than the average UK car.
MOT fail rate · 7-year-old cars
Ford16.4%
UK average16.6%
Fails less often than the average 7-year-old car (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)
Where to start
The lowest and highest fail rates in the Ford range
The Ford models whose MOT tests at 7 years old most and least often ended in a fail.
Lowest fail rates
- 1
Ford Edge13.6%fail rate - 2
Ford Kuga14.1%fail rate - 3
Ford Mustang14.8%fail rate
Highest fail rates
- 1
Ford B-MAX23.3%fail rate - 2
Ford Ranger21.5%fail rate - 3
Ford Tourneo21.4%fail rate
What actually goes wrong
What breaks on Ford cars
The most common MOT faults across the Ford range, in plain English. Models with more MOT tests count for more. The percentage is the share of MOT tests on Ford cars that recorded that defect.
14.0%
Rigid brake pipe
A rigid metal brake pipe is corroded, damaged, kinked, or leaking. These permanently fixed pipes carry pressurised brake fluid — any weakness is a serious safety concern.
MOT wording: Brake pipe corroded or covered in grease
11.1%
Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing
A tyre is worn, cut, damaged or otherwise not fit for the road. Tyres are the only thing connecting the car to the road, so this is always worth taking seriously.
10.8%
Brake linings and pads
Brake pads or linings are worn, contaminated, or missing. These are the friction materials that press against the disc or drum to slow the car. When too thin, stopping distances increase.
MOT wording: Brake pads wearing thin
Across all Ford models; models with more MOT tests count for more.
The whole range
Every Ford that ranks, in plain English
For each model, one number: the share of its MOT tests at 7 years old that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. Lower is better. The UK average (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%) is shown for reference. Only models with enough MOT data at 7 years old are ranked. The rest sit just below, unranked.
17 models
Ford Edge
The lowest 7-year fail rate of any Ford here.
13.6%fail rate at 7 years old
Ford Kuga
Among the lower fail rates in the Ford range at 7 years old.
14.1%fail rate at 7 years old
Ford Mustang
Among the lower fail rates in the Ford range at 7 years old.
14.8%fail rate at 7 years old
Ford Mondeo
Among the lower fail rates in the Ford range at 7 years old.
14.8%fail rate at 7 years old
Ford Focus
Among the lower fail rates in the Ford range at 7 years old.
15.6%fail rate at 7 years old
Ford C-MAX
Among the lower fail rates in the Ford range at 7 years old.
15.7%fail rate at 7 years old
Ford Fiesta
Among the lower fail rates in the Ford range at 7 years old.
16.4%fail rate at 7 years old
Ford Ka
Above the Ford average, and at or above the UK average.
16.6%fail rate at 7 years old
Ford S-MAX
Above the Ford average, and at or above the UK average.
16.8%fail rate at 7 years old
Ford Tourneo Connect
Above the Ford average, and at or above the UK average.
17.6%fail rate at 7 years old
Ford Galaxy
Above the Ford average, and at or above the UK average.
17.8%fail rate at 7 years old
Ford EcoSport
Above the Ford average, and at or above the UK average.
18.4%fail rate at 7 years old
Ford Tourneo Custom
Above the Ford average, and at or above the UK average.
20.6%fail rate at 7 years old
Ford Grand C-MAX
Above the Ford average, and at or above the UK average.
20.9%fail rate at 7 years old
Ford Tourneo
Above the Ford average, and at or above the UK average.
21.4%fail rate at 7 years old
Ford Ranger
Above the Ford average, and at or above the UK average.
21.5%fail rate at 7 years old
Ford B-MAX
Above the Ford average, and at or above the UK average.
23.3%fail rate at 7 years old
Fail rates are the share of MOT tests on 7-year-old cars ending in a fail, retests included (DVSA MOT results, 2025). UK average across all makes at the same age: 16.6%. How we count fail rates
Not directly comparable with the figures at 7 years old
Shown unranked. These models don’t have enough MOT data at 7 years old yet. They’re either too new (few cars old enough) or too old (few still on the road). Each is shown at the age with the most tests, so the percentages aren’t directly comparable to the list above.
Too new to rankFord Puma
6.9%fail rate at 3 years old · 34,927 MOT tests
Too new to rankFord Mustang Mach-E
9.3%fail rate at 3 years old · 4,731 MOT tests
Too old to rankFord Cortina
10.0%fail rate at 25+ years old · 679 MOT tests
Too old to rankFord Sierra
11.5%fail rate at 25+ years old · 3,022 MOT tests
Too old to rank
Ford Capri
14.8%fail rate at 25+ years old · 2,247 MOT tests
Too old to rankFord Escort
16.8%fail rate at 25+ years old · 10,088 MOT tests
Too old to rankFord Granada
17.1%fail rate at 25+ years old · 668 MOT tests
Too old to rankFord Fusion
29.7%fail rate at 16 years old · 10,140 MOT tests
Looking at one in particular?
Averages tell you the odds across the range. Enter a number plate to see that car’s own MOT history, its risk rating, and what’s likely to need attention.