Know Your MOT
24.2%fail rate

Ford Custom common MOT failures and failure rate

What a Ford Custom fails its MOT on, from real DVSA test data, and the part that resolves each item.

Based on 149 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 24.2% of MOT tests recorded on the Ford Custom in DVSA data end in a failure. The same handful of items account for most of them.

Its most common failure is brakes, which makes up 47.2% of the Ford Custom's failures, followed by brakes, lamps & electrical, visibility/wipers, suspension. Each item below links to the part that resolves it. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying, and have safety-critical work done by a competent mechanic.

What it fails on, and why

Brakes47.2% of failures

Brake failures cover worn pads and discs, an imbalance between wheels, corroded or scored discs, or a binding caliper. Braking efficiency is measured on a rolling road, so a spongy or pulling brake shows up as a low reading.

Lamps & electrical33.3% of failures

Lighting is the single most common MOT failure and the cheapest to put right. A blown headlight, brake-light or number-plate bulb, a cracked lens, or a headlamp beam that points too high or low will all fail. Most are a two-minute bulb swap.

Visibility/wipers30.6% of failures

Visibility failures include torn or smearing wiper blades, a washer jet that does not reach the screen, and chips or cracks in the driver's swept area. Blades and washer fluid are quick, cheap fixes.

Suspension19.4% of failures

Suspension failures usually mean a worn or snapped coil spring, a leaking shock absorber, or play in a lower arm ball joint or bush. The tester checks for corrosion, fractures and excessive movement. A broken front spring is one of the most common failures on higher-mileage cars and is a straightforward replacement.

Other13.9% of failures

This covers a range of smaller items, from a non-working horn to a warning light left on.

Exhaust & emissions13.9% of failures

Exhaust failures cover leaks, insecure mountings and emissions over the limit. A blowing exhaust, a failed lambda reading or a diesel that smokes beyond the limit will fail.

The parts that fix each

If your car has just failed, you have 10 working days to fix the items and get a free partial retest. These are the usual parts; confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the brakes failure: Ford Custom brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for Ford Custom brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind Ford Custom brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the lamps & electrical failure: Ford Custom headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Ford Custom headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Ford Custom headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the visibility/wipers failure: Ford Custom wiper bladesSearch Amazon for Ford Custom wiper bladesaffiliate searchFind Ford Custom wiper blades on eBayaffiliate
For the suspension failure: Ford Custom suspension springs and shock absorbersSearch Amazon for Ford Custom suspension springs and shock absorbersaffiliate searchFind Ford Custom suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate
For the exhaust & emissions failure: Ford Custom exhaustSearch Amazon for Ford Custom exhaustaffiliate searchFind Ford Custom exhaust on eBayaffiliate

Other models

Ford Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rateFord Focus MOT failures26.1% failure rateFord Transit MOT failures31.1% failure rateVauxhall Corsa MOT failures30.1% failure rate

Sources: DVSA MOT History API: MOT test results and defect data ยท DVSA MOT testing data for Great Britain