EV ZoneFord
Reliability
Are Fords reliable? Common problems, MOT data, and full history checks for used Ford vehicles.
68.5% MOT pass rate based on 4.2 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 68.5%, three points below the national average of 71.9%. Among mainstream brands, Ford sits mid-pack. Toyota leads at 74.6%, followed by Volkswagen at 72.8%. Vauxhall and Peugeot trail at 65 to 67%.
Ford is the highest-volume brand on UK roads by a wide margin, with 4.2 million MOT tests in Great Britain 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 82 to 86%, compared with the national average of 84 to 88% for the same age range. The gap widens through the middle years: at age 12, Fords pass at 61% vs 64% nationally.
By 20 years old, Fords pass at 53% vs 57% nationally. Ford is a workhorse brand, and this may reflect higher mileage in the early and middle years, and older cars kept on the road with basic maintenance.
What are the most common Ford faults?
Top 10 MOT failure categories for Ford, ranked by the share of failed tests they were found on. 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 (found on 26.85% of failed Ford tests)
A lamp, indicator, or electrical component that has completely stopped functioning. Usually a blown bulb or faulty sensor.
- Ball joint excessively worn (found on 9.24% of failed Ford tests)
A suspension ball joint has developed too much play. Affects steering feel and handling; needs replacement.
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (found on 7.63% of failed Ford tests)
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.
- Less than 1.5 mm thick (found on 6.34% of failed Ford tests)
A brake pad measured below the minimum safe thickness of 1.5mm. Immediate replacement required to maintain braking performance.
- Fractured or broken (found on 6.07% of failed Ford tests)
A suspension arm, spring, or bracket has snapped or cracked. The affected part must be replaced before the vehicle is roadworthy.
Ford's failure profile mostly follows the national pattern, with one clear exception. Lamps and electrical faults are found on 45.5% of failed tests, well above the national average of 38.2%. Suspension (31.2%) is in line with national (32.4%), and brakes (19.5%) are a little lower than national (22.4%).
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 71.9%. Red bars sit below it.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Fiesta | 1,238,482 | 64.0% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Focus | 822,045 | 66.8% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Transit | 262,242 | 61.5% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Kuga | 240,862 | 76.7% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Mondeo | 164,033 | 66.7% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Ka | 162,580 | 66.0% | Suspension |
| Ford Transit Connect | 150,719 | 65.7% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Ranger | 115,908 | 72.0% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Ecosport | 104,690 | 76.7% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford C-Max | 102,283 | 67.5% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford S-Max | 64,531 | 64.1% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Transit Custom | 60,985 | 75.7% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford B-Max | 51,989 | 67.6% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Galaxy | 50,224 | 62.9% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Ford Fusion | 44,894 | 57.4% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
The Kuga (76.7%) and EcoSport (76.7%) lead the popular Ford range, with the Transit Custom van at 75.7% and the Ranger pickup at 72.0%. The Fiesta sits at 64.0% and the Focus at 66.8%. Both are Ford's highest-volume models, and both sit below the national average. The Transit van lags further at 61% pass rate. The Transit Connect, a rival to the Vauxhall Combo, and the 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 higher mileage than the national average, which may reflect the fleet-car and commercial-van profile of the range. At age 3 Fords average 39,000 miles vs 33,500 nationally. By age 20 the gap reverses: Fords average 104,000 miles vs 109,000 nationally, possibly as fleet cars drop out of the population and more 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.
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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 data, 2025, Great Britain (published June 2026). First MOT test of the year for each class 4 vehicle, with 5,000+ tests per model. Published under Open Government Licence v3.0.