Ford Mondeo MOT pass rate and common failures

171,295 tests analysed: how it compares with other cars its age, and what to check before you buy

67%passed first time
66%average car, same ages
#125of 217 popular car models
171,295MOT tests in 2025

In 2025, 171,295 Ford Mondeo cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 67% passed first time, compared with 66% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the Mondeo about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 125 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, 86% of Mondeos passed first time (all cars that age: 88%). By 20 years, that figure is 55% (all cars: 58%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 8 to 10 years.

Ford Mondeo   All cars of that age

AgeTestsMondeo passed first timeAll carsTypical mileage
3 years24486%88%36,735
4 years94985%87%51,242
5 years1,99086%86%60,162
6 years4,35684%84%72,332
7 years6,98883%81%82,904
8 years10,83982%78%90,766
9 years15,99680%75%99,414
10 years17,03476%72%106,537
11 years11,02368%69%121,690
12 years11,87865%66%128,293
13 years14,61664%63%128,514
14 years11,90563%61%132,865
15 years13,22458%59%132,387
16 years12,40758%58%135,211
17 years11,03955%57%138,257
18 years8,39655%57%130,779
19 years5,41556%57%121,728
20 years4,47855%58%121,185

What fails most on a Ford Mondeo

The area that lets the Mondeo down most, relative to other cars, is tyres: 12.0% of tests failed on it, 1.4 times the rate for the average car.

Share of Mondeo tests failing on this area   Average car

The six most common failure items

Failure itemAreaShare of tests
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively wornSuspension5.7%
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirementsLights and electrics5.6%
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirementsTyres4.3%
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioningLights and electrics4.2%
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etcSuspension3.2%
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mmBrakes3.2%

What to check when buying a used Mondeo

Based on where the Mondeo fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:

  • Tyres: Check tread across the whole width (uneven wear hints at alignment or suspension faults), and look for cuts, bulges and mismatched brands. Repair guide
  • Steering: Feel for play or knocking through the wheel, and check power-steering fluid isn’t leaking. More
  • Body and structure: Get underneath with a torch: sills, jacking points, subframe mounts and floor pans. Structural rust is the failure that can make a car uneconomic to fix. 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 Mondeo

Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.

Check a Mondeo

Frequently asked questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a Ford Mondeo?

In 2025, 67% of Ford Mondeo cars passed their MOT first time, across 171,295 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 66%.

What do Ford Mondeo cars most often fail their MOT on?

The most common failure items were: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (5.7% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (5.6% of tests); tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (4.3% of tests).

Other Ford models

Ford Fiesta (65%), Ford Focus (67%), Ford Kuga (78%), Ford Transit (62%), 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.