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Ford Fusion Mk1 (2002-2012) reliability

At a glance

Ford Fusion Mk1 built around 2012: about average at the MOT

Ford Fusion Mk1 models built around 2012 fail their MOT a little less often than similar cars the same age.

Looking at a Ford Fusion Mk1?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Key figure

24% of MOT tests on Ford Fusion Mk1 models built around 2012 ended in a fail (retests included), against 28% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Ford Fusion Mk1 models built around 2012 involves the brakes.

Ford Fusion Mk1
No reliability rating: too close to call between ratings2002-2012HatchbackDIESEL / PETROL

Based on 64,370 tests of Fusion models registered 2002-2012.

About 1 in 30 Fusion Mk1 MOTs (3.1%) failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. That's for cars built around 2012 (13 years old), all fuels combined.

Based on 1,981 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025). A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted. Nor is a fail with no later MOT on record.

About 1 in 20 Fusion Mk1 MOTs (4.6%) found at least one dangerous defect. These are cars built around 2012 (13 years old).

Based on 1,981 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025). Dangerous is the most serious grade an MOT gives: a direct risk to road safety.

Mk1 fail rate by age

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for cars this age
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
27124.3%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
1,98124.1%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
4,79427.1%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
9,58628.9%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
10,14029.7%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
9,50930.6%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
8,82432.2%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
6,82732.6%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
5,02931.8%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
4,60933.8%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
2,66431.8%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
13628.7%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 21 years old.

How the Fusion Mk1 compares

At each age below, see how the Fusion Mk1 holds up against other cars the same age. The averages combine all fuel types.

Based on 305,206 tests across 13 Ford models, built around 2012 (13 years old).

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateFord average
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
27124.3%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
1,98124.1%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
4,79427.1%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
9,58628.9%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
10,14029.7%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
9,50930.6%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
8,82432.2%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
6,82732.6%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
5,02931.8%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
4,60933.8%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
2,66431.8%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
13628.7%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs.

What to check before viewing

The model's most common MOT issues, turned into things you can ask about or look for.

Brake pipes and hoses

High priority

Look under the car for corrosion or chafing on the rigid brake pipes near the rear axle.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Lighting

Worth checking

Inspect the lighting carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Suspension springs

Worth checking

Check ride height is even side-to-side and look for cracked or rusted coils.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

Other hatchbacks to compare

Other hatchbacks, with each one's figures taken at the same age as the Fusion Mk1.

  1. 1

    Honda Jazz

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    20.3%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    2.4%
    Dangerous
    5.2%
    Still registered at 10 years
    98%

    Lower fail rate: 20.3%, against 24.1% for the Ford Fusion Mk1, both built around 2012.

    6 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    26,482 MOT tests on cars built around 2012

  2. 2

    Peugeot 207

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    33%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    6.8%
    Dangerous
    5.9%
    Still registered at 10 years
    92.6%

    No clear edge over the Ford Fusion Mk1 on these figures.

    25,396 MOT tests on cars built around 2012

  3. 3

    Alfa Romeo Giulietta

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    31.2%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    11.2%
    Dangerous
    9.3%
    Still registered at 10 years
    92.6%

    No clear edge over the Ford Fusion Mk1 on these figures.

    5,154 MOT tests on cars built around 2012

  4. 4

    Alfa Romeo MiTo

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    28.8%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    7.8%
    Dangerous
    7.8%
    Still registered at 10 years
    87.9%

    No clear edge over the Ford Fusion Mk1 on these figures.

    3,030 MOT tests on cars built around 2012

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Recall context

5 recalls in all

All 5 Fusion Mk1 recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 5 recalls

Top concerns

  • Takata air bag inflator may rupture on deployment
  • Rear suspension bolts may fail
  • Power steering may be lost

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

How Fusion Mk1 cars have aged

How Fusion Mk1 cars have aged

How fail rates have changed as these cars got older. Each line follows cars first registered in about the same year across several years of MOT data. Not a prediction for any one car.

0%10%20%30%911131517192123Age at MOTBuilt around 2012, 9 years old at the time of MOT: 20.1% (773 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2012, 10 years old at the time of MOT: 19.7% (751 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2012, 11 years old at the time of MOT: 22.6% (782 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2012, 12 years old at the time of MOT: 22.5% (770 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2012, 13 years old at the time of MOT: 24.4% (747 tests, 2025 data)2012Built around 2011, 10 years old at the time of MOT: 20.6% (2,151 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2011, 11 years old at the time of MOT: 22.6% (2,141 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2011, 12 years old at the time of MOT: 24.2% (2,122 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2011, 13 years old at the time of MOT: 25.0% (2,057 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2011, 14 years old at the time of MOT: 26.2% (2,000 tests, 2025 data)2011Built around 2010, 11 years old at the time of MOT: 24.1% (5,307 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2010, 12 years old at the time of MOT: 25.2% (5,195 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2010, 13 years old at the time of MOT: 26.8% (5,099 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2010, 14 years old at the time of MOT: 27.4% (4,853 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2010, 15 years old at the time of MOT: 28.6% (4,644 tests, 2025 data)2010Built around 2009, 12 years old at the time of MOT: 26.5% (7,482 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2009, 13 years old at the time of MOT: 26.9% (7,195 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2009, 14 years old at the time of MOT: 26.8% (6,731 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2009, 15 years old at the time of MOT: 28.2% (6,252 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2009, 16 years old at the time of MOT: 29.3% (5,887 tests, 2025 data)2009Built around 2008, 13 years old at the time of MOT: 27.0% (7,865 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2008, 14 years old at the time of MOT: 28.3% (7,530 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2008, 15 years old at the time of MOT: 28.3% (6,994 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2008, 16 years old at the time of MOT: 29.4% (6,381 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2008, 17 years old at the time of MOT: 30.2% (5,696 tests, 2025 data)2008Built around 2007, 14 years old at the time of MOT: 29.8% (7,950 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2007, 15 years old at the time of MOT: 29.5% (7,221 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2007, 16 years old at the time of MOT: 30.6% (6,742 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2007, 17 years old at the time of MOT: 30.5% (5,932 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2007, 18 years old at the time of MOT: 30.9% (5,144 tests, 2025 data)2007Built around 2006, 15 years old at the time of MOT: 30.6% (7,412 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2006, 16 years old at the time of MOT: 31.1% (6,735 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2006, 17 years old at the time of MOT: 32.0% (6,184 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2006, 18 years old at the time of MOT: 32.5% (5,315 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2006, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 33.0% (4,528 tests, 2025 data)2006Built around 2005, 16 years old at the time of MOT: 30.7% (5,776 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2005, 17 years old at the time of MOT: 30.6% (4,980 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2005, 18 years old at the time of MOT: 30.6% (4,338 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2005, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 31.4% (3,678 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2005, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 31.7% (3,062 tests, 2025 data)2005Built around 2004, 17 years old at the time of MOT: 31.9% (5,829 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2004, 18 years old at the time of MOT: 31.6% (4,954 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2004, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 31.8% (4,112 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2004, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 31.9% (3,329 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2004, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 33.0% (2,708 tests, 2025 data)2004Built around 2003, 18 years old at the time of MOT: 32.6% (5,508 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2003, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 32.8% (4,410 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2003, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 32.0% (3,560 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2003, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 32.3% (2,852 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2003, 22 years old at the time of MOT: 31.4% (2,270 tests, 2025 data)2003Built around 2002, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 35.5% (467 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2002, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 31.2% (337 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2002, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 31.6% (288 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2002, 22 years old at the time of MOT: 31.7% (240 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2002, 23 years old at the time of MOT: 28.7% (136 tests, 2025 data)2002
First registered around 2012First registered around 2011First registered around 2010First registered around 2009
Mk1 variants compared
All generations of this modelEnough data

Most common issues on Ford Fusions of this age

This list covers every Ford Fusion built around 2012, whichever generation it is. We don't have a defect list for the Mk1 on its own.

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Brake pipe corroded or covered in grease

    16.4%
    Advisory: 432Fail: 53 (11% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    15.0%
    Advisory: 441Fail: 34 (7% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    13.9%
    Advisory: 358Fail: 38 (10% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Indicator lens slightly discoloured

    8.2%
    Advisory: 200Fail: 50 (20% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

    7.7%
    Advisory: 188Fail: 1 (1% of the times it was found)

Based on 1,981 tests

Looking at a Ford Fusion Mk1?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2012 (13 years old), the Ford Fusion Mk1 (2002-2012) fails MOTs noticeably less often than typical for this age. This is based on 1,981 13-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

*The build year is worked out from the date a car was first used on UK roads. For most cars this matches when it was registered, but imports may differ by a few months.

Data sourced from DVSA MOT History API. From 64,370 MOT tests on Ford Fusions first registered between 2002-2012. These figures are a guide, not a guarantee.