Know Your MOT
15.3%fail rate

Ford F1 common MOT failures and failure rate

What a Ford F1 fails its MOT on, from real DVSA test data, and the part that resolves each item.

Based on 190 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 15.3% of MOT tests recorded on the Ford F1 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 48.3% of the Ford F1's failures, followed by brakes, suspension, lamps & electrical, visibility/wipers. 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

Brakes48.3% 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.

Suspension44.8% 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.

Lamps & electrical31.0% 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/wipers20.7% 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.

Steering17.2% of failures

Steering faults are typically worn track-rod ends or ball joints, play in the rack, or a split gaiter letting grease out and dirt in. Excessive free play at the wheel fails.

Tyres13.8% of failures

Tyres fail for tread below the 1.6mm legal limit across the central three-quarters, uneven or exposed-cord wear, or sidewall damage. The tester inspects all four; a single illegal tyre is a 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 F1 brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for Ford F1 brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind Ford F1 brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the suspension failure: Ford F1 suspension springs and shock absorbersSearch Amazon for Ford F1 suspension springs and shock absorbersaffiliate searchFind Ford F1 suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate
For the lamps & electrical failure: Ford F1 headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Ford F1 headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Ford F1 headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the visibility/wipers failure: Ford F1 wiper bladesSearch Amazon for Ford F1 wiper bladesaffiliate searchFind Ford F1 wiper blades on eBayaffiliate
For the steering failure: Ford F1 steering track rod endsSearch Amazon for Ford F1 steering track rod endsaffiliate searchFind Ford F1 steering track rod ends on eBayaffiliate
For the tyres failure: Ford F1 tyresSearch Amazon for Ford F1 tyresaffiliate searchFind Ford F1 tyres 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