MOT failure data · 2025

Ford Fiesta MOT problems

Across every Ford Fiesta that failed its 2025 MOT, the defect testers recorded most often was ball joint ball joint excessively worn, on 7.5% of failure items. The broadest problem area was suspension at 25.22%. These are recorded defects across the model, not a diagnosis of any one car.

Most common Ford Fiesta MOT failures

#	Recorded defect	Area	Share
1	Ball joint ball joint excessively worn	Suspension	7.5%
2	Stop lamp not working	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	5.82%
3	Tread depth tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	4.1%
4	Track rod end ball joint has excessive play	Steering	4.07%
5	Position lamp not working	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	3.42%
6	Coil spring fractured or broken	Suspension	3.38%
7	Swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn	Suspension	2.78%
8	Condition has ply or cords exposed	Tyres	2.57%
9	Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength	Suspension	2.25%
10	Wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively	Visibility	2.2%

Shares are of all recorded failure items for this model, so they sum to less than 100% — a single failed test often records several defects, and the long tail below the top 10 is not shown.

What this means if you are buying one

Use it as a viewing checklist. If you are looking at a Ford Fiesta, these are the areas worth inspecting and worth asking about — and worth reading the car's own MOT history for, since a defect that keeps reappearing as an advisory is a better signal than any model-wide average.

The MOT record also has hard limits: it does not check the engine, clutch or gearbox, and it says nothing about outstanding finance, insurance write-off history, stolen markers or whether the mileage is genuine. Our used Ford Fiesta buying guide covers what to check beyond the MOT.

Checking a specific Ford Fiesta?

Enter its registration for finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history.

Other Ford models

Ford Fiesta MOT FAQs

What does a Ford Fiesta most commonly fail its MOT on?

The single most recorded defect on Ford Fiesta cars failing their 2025 MOT was "ball joint ball joint excessively worn", appearing on 7.5% of failure items.

Does this mean my Ford Fiesta will fail?

No. This is what testers recorded across every Ford Fiesta that failed in 2025. It shows where this model tends to need attention, not the condition of any individual car. The Ford Fiesta passed 72.78% of its initial tests.

How do I see a specific Ford Fiesta's MOT history?

Enter its registration on our free MOT history check to see that car's own test results, advisories and recorded mileages.

Defect counts from the DVSA MOT Anonymised test-item data for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, failure items only — advisories and minor defects excluded), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.