In 2025, 1,308,721 Ford Fiesta cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 65% passed first time, compared with 69% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the Fiesta about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 179 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 3 years old, 91% of Fiestas passed first time (all cars that age: 88%). By 20 years, that figure is 53% (all cars: 58%). It trails the average car at most ages, most noticeably at 9 years (7 points behind).
Ford Fiesta All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | Fiesta passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 11,753 | 91% | 88% | 21,225.9204458436 |
| 4 years | 12,439 | 88% | 87% | 29,459.4758421095 |
| 5 years | 32,015 | 85% | 86% | 35,801.2711853819 |
| 6 years | 73,822 | 85% | 84% | 40,225.4625856791 |
| 7 years | 92,851 | 83% | 81% | 47,076 |
| 8 years | 89,397 | 74% | 78% | 52,986 |
| 9 years | 112,670 | 68% | 75% | 60,481 |
| 10 years | 123,447 | 65% | 72% | 66,678 |
| 11 years | 119,920 | 62% | 69% | 73,467 |
| 12 years | 109,531 | 60% | 66% | 79,889 |
| 13 years | 95,573 | 58% | 63% | 85,135 |
| 14 years | 80,767 | 58% | 61% | 91,827 |
| 15 years | 81,039 | 55% | 59% | 95,885 |
| 16 years | 84,357 | 54% | 58% | 96,722 |
| 17 years | 48,512 | 53% | 57% | 93,953 |
| 18 years | 43,650 | 53% | 57% | 94,533 |
| 19 years | 34,345 | 52% | 57% | 95,354 |
| 20 years | 19,940 | 53% | 58% | 94,527 |
What fails most on a Ford Fiesta
The area that lets the Fiesta down most, relative to other cars, is steering: 4.4% of tests failed on it, 2.0 times the rate for the average car.
Share of Fiesta tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 7.9% |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 7.1% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 5.1% |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 3.5% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 3.5% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 3.3% |
What to check when buying a used Fiesta
Based on where the Fiesta fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Steering: Feel for play or knocking through the wheel, and check power-steering fluid isn’t leaking. More
- Lights and electrics: Walk round with the lights on: headlights (dipped and main), indicators, brake lights, number-plate and fog lights. Bulbs are cheap, but a seller who hasn’t noticed one out may have missed more. Repair guide
- Emissions and leaks: Look for oil and coolant leaks underneath, listen for exhaust blows on a cold start, and watch for smoke when revving. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific Fiesta
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a FiestaFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Ford Fiesta?
In 2025, 65% of Ford Fiesta cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,308,721 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 69%.
What do Ford Fiesta cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (7.9% of tests); stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (7.1% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (5.1% of tests).
Other Ford models
Ford Focus (67%), Ford Kuga (78%), Ford Transit (62%), Ford Mondeo (67%), Ford Ka (66%), Ford Transit Connect (66%). All Ford models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.