Know Your MOT

MOT failure rate and common problems for the Ford N/A, and how to check your own car by registration.

Updated 05 September 2026.

18.9%fail rate

Ford N/A MOT failure rate

What a Ford N/A fails its MOT on, and the part that fixes each.

What it fails on, and why

Lamps & electrical50.0% 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/wipers40.0% 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.

Suspension40.0% 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.

Brakes30.0% 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.

Tyres10.0% 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. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the lamps & electrical failure: Ford N/A headlight and indicator bulbsShop Ford N/A headlight and indicator bulbs on AmazonaffiliateFind Ford N/A headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the visibility/wipers failure: Ford N/A wiper bladesShop Ford N/A wiper blades on AmazonaffiliateFind Ford N/A wiper blades on eBayaffiliate
For the suspension failure: Ford N/A suspension springs and shock absorbersShop Ford N/A suspension springs and shock absorbers on AmazonaffiliateFind Ford N/A suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate
For the brakes failure: Ford N/A brake pads and discsShop Ford N/A brake pads and discs on AmazonaffiliateFind Ford N/A brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the tyres failure: Ford N/A tyresShop Ford N/A tyres on AmazonaffiliateFind Ford N/A tyres on eBayaffiliate

Other models

All Ford models MOT failure rates comparedRanked worst to bestFord Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rateFord Focus MOT failures26.1% failure rateVauxhall Corsa MOT failures29.9% failure rate

Questions and answers

What is the MOT failure rate of the Ford N/A?

It fails 18.9% of its MOT tests across the DVSA record, from 53 tests.

What do these cars fail their MOT on most?

The most common failure area is lamps & electrical, at 50.0% of this model's failures.