EV ZoneFord
Reliability
Are Fords reliable? Common problems, MOT data, and full history checks for used Ford vehicles.
68.8% MOT pass rate based on 3.9 million tests.
Common faults and reliability ranked across 38 Ford models.
Full vehicle history checks for £9.99 with no subscription.
Ford Vehicle Check
Check any Ford's full history
- ✓Outstanding finance check
- ✓Stolen marker check
- ✓Write-off and salvage history
- ✓Full MOT history and mileage
- ✓Safety recall check
- ✓Vehicle valuation
Are Ford cars reliable?
Ford vs other premium brands
Ford vehicles pass their MOT at 68.7%, four points below the national average of 72.4%. Among mainstream brands, Ford sits mid-pack. Toyota leads at 75.0%, followed by Volkswagen at 72.9%. Vauxhall and Peugeot trail at 65-67%.
Ford is the highest-volume brand on UK roads by a wide margin, with 3.9 million MOT tests in 2025. The two headline models, the Fiesta and Focus, account for around half of all Ford tests but sit at 64% and 67% pass rates respectively. Larger SUVs like the Kuga perform much better.
Reliability data shows part of the picture. A vehicle history check reveals the rest, including outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, and mileage discrepancies.
What is the Ford MOT pass rate by age?
Pass rate at each vehicle age, from 3 to 20 years old. National average shown for comparison.
Ford pass rates sit below the national average at every age from 3 through 20. Newer Fords (3 to 5 years old) pass at 84 to 87%, compared with the national average of 86 to 89% for the same age range. The gap widens through the middle years: at age 12, Fords pass at 62% vs 66% nationally.
By 20 years old, Fords pass at 54% vs 58% nationally. Ford is a workhorse brand and the data reflects that: high mileage, extended service intervals, and a bias toward older cars kept on the road with basic maintenance rather than premium care.
What are the most common Ford faults?
Top 10 MOT failure categories for Ford, ranked by frequency. National percentage shown alongside.
Top 5 specific Ford failure reasons
These are the specific MOT examiner findings most frequently recorded on Ford vehicles, along with what they mean.
- Not working (8.93% of Ford failures)
A lamp, indicator, or electrical component that has completely stopped functioning. Usually a blown bulb or faulty sensor.
- Ball joint excessively worn (3.95% of Ford failures)
A suspension ball joint has developed too much play. Affects steering feel and handling; needs replacement.
- Inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (3.90% of Ford failures)
More than one bulb or LED in a lamp cluster has failed, so the unit no longer meets minimum brightness. Often a headlight or brake light LED strip.
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (3.58% of Ford failures)
One or more tyres worn below the legal minimum tread depth. The legal limit is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre.
- Damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.48% of Ford failures)
Windscreen damage such as a chip or crack that has not yet spread into the driver's line of sight. Commonly caused by road debris.
Ford's failure profile broadly matches the national pattern. Lamps and electrical equipment (25.9% of failures) is slightly higher than the national average of 24.6%. Suspension (20.8%) and brakes (11.8%) are in line with national numbers. This is a fairly typical pattern for a high-volume mainstream brand with a wide age spread.
Which Ford models are most reliable?
Top 15 Ford models ranked by MOT test volume. Pass rate shown for each. Green bars beat the national average of 72.4%. Red bars sit below it.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Fiesta | 1,145,817 | 64.2% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Focus | 761,500 | 67.1% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Transit | 247,927 | 62.0% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Kuga | 223,221 | 76.8% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Mondeo | 154,139 | 67.0% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Ka | 150,520 | 66.3% | Suspension |
| Ford Transit Connect | 141,536 | 66.0% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Ranger | 108,604 | 72.3% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Ecosport | 96,998 | 76.9% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford C-Max | 94,500 | 67.6% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford S-Max | 60,385 | 64.3% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Transit Custom | 56,187 | 75.9% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Galaxy | 48,614 | 64.0% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford B-Max | 47,587 | 67.8% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Fusion | 41,491 | 57.6% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
The Kuga (76.8%) and Ranger (72.3%) lead the popular Ford range. The Fiesta sits at 64.2% and the Focus at 67.1%. Both are Ford's highest-volume models, and both sit below the national average. The Transit van lags further at 62% pass rate, typical for a commercial vehicle. The Vivaro-rival Transit Connect and older Mondeo also sit below the brand average.
How many miles do Ford vehicles typically cover?
Average recorded mileage at each MOT test, by vehicle age. National average shown for comparison.
Newer Fords (3 to 6 years old) cover slightly higher mileage than the national average, consistent with the fleet-car and commercial-van profile of the range. At age 3 Fords average 31,500 miles vs 28,000 nationally. By age 20 the gap reverses: Fords average 105,000 miles vs 111,000 nationally, as the fleet cars drop out of the population and only lightly-used private examples survive.
Our Premium Vehicle Reports compare the recorded mileage at every MOT test to flag discrepancies. A drop in recorded mileage between two tests is a strong signal that the odometer may have been tampered with.
Are there any Ford safety recalls?
Safety recalls are issued by Ford when a manufacturing defect could affect the safety of the vehicle. The DVSA records every UK recall and links it to affected vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Recalls are free for the owner to have fixed at a franchised dealer.
Recall lists change over time as new issues are identified and old ones are resolved. For that reason we do not maintain a static list here. When you check a Ford via Brumble, the report shows any outstanding manufacturer safety recalls that still need action on that specific vehicle.
How do you check a Ford's full history?
Before you buy any used Ford, a full history check protects you from problems that a physical inspection would miss. Here is what a Premium Vehicle Report from Brumble covers.
Has this Ford been written off?
An insurance write-off means the car has been declared uneconomical to repair after an accident, fire, or flood. The report shows the category (Cat A, B, N, or S), the date, and the cause. Cat A and B are permanently unroadworthy. Cat N and S can legally return to the road but often carry hidden damage and are worth significantly less.
Is there outstanding finance on this Ford?
If the previous owner has an active HP, PCP, or loan agreement secured against the car, the finance company legally owns it until the balance is paid off. Buying a car with outstanding finance means the finance company can repossess it, even after you have paid the seller in full. The report checks with Experian for any active finance agreements.
Has this Ford been reported stolen?
The Police National Computer records stolen vehicles. The report checks the PNC for any active stolen marker. Buying a stolen vehicle means the police can seize it and return it to the rightful owner, with no compensation.
Has the mileage been tampered with?
Every MOT test records the current mileage. The report shows the full mileage history from every recorded test and flags any drops or unusually flat periods. A drop between tests is a strong signal the odometer has been clocked. A car worth £15,000 with 60,000 miles on the clock might be worth £10,000 if the true mileage is 120,000.
Has this Ford been used as a taxi or private hire vehicle?
Ex-taxis and private hire vehicles have typically covered high mileage under harder use than a private car of the same age. Insurers may view them as higher risk, and resale value is significantly lower. The report checks whether the vehicle has ever been registered as a taxi or private hire vehicle.
What is this Ford worth?
The report includes current trade, retail, and private-sale valuations based on the vehicle's make, model, trim, mileage, and condition. Use it to check whether the asking price is fair before you negotiate.
Check any Ford's full history for £9.99. No subscription.
Check a VehicleBacked by a £10,000 data guarantee.
What should you check before buying a used Ford?
Four practical steps before you hand over any money.
- 1
Check the MOT history
Every UK vehicle has a free MOT test history showing every pass, fail, advisory, and recorded mileage. Use the Brumble MOT checker to see what previous inspections found.
- 2
Check the vehicle's full history
A Premium Vehicle Report covers outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, mileage discrepancies, safety recalls, and valuation. £9.99, no subscription.
- 3
Compare insurance before you commit
Ford insurance groups vary widely by model and trim. Get a car insurance quote before you buy to avoid nasty surprises after the sale.
- 4
Check the tax status
Confirm the car is currently taxed, or you may not be able to drive it away. The Brumble tax checker shows current tax status and when tax is next due.
Ford Reliability FAQs
Source: Brumble analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2025 test year (published June 2026). Class 3 and 4 vehicles with 5,000+ tests per model. Published under Open Government Licence v3.0.