Ford Fiesta common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Ford Fiesta at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 1,435,519 UK MOT tests of the Ford Fiesta in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is swivel pins and bushes (swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn): recorded on 5.4% of tests of 2016–2018 cars at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km), 54× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: shock absorbers (a serious fluid leak) (18×); headlamp aim (too low) (9.1×); stop lamp (not working) (7.9×). The most common reasons a Ford Fiesta fails its MOT are stop lamp (not working); ball joint (ball joint excessively worn); position lamp (not working).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Ford Fiesta
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Ford Fiesta than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swivel pins and bushes: swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn | Advisory | 2016–2018 | 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 5.4% | 0.1% | 54× | 1,195 |
| Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak | MOT fail | 2020–2022 | 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 3.6% | 0.2% | 18× | 29,699 |
| Headlamp aim: too low | MOT fail | 2020–2022 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 6.4% | 0.7% | 9.1× | 18,912 |
| Stop lamp: not working | MOT fail | 2016–2018 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 5.5% | 0.7% | 7.9× | 89,922 |
| Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil | Advisory | 2020–2022 | 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 5% | 0.6% | 8.3× | 29,699 |
| On or after 01/01/2014: emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit | MOT fail | 2016–2018 | 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) | 5.1% | 0.4% | 13× | 488 |
| Wheels (condition): slightly distorted | Advisory | 2005–2007 | 160k+ mi (257k+ km) | 8.4% | 0.9% | 9.3× | 4,427 |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | MOT fail | 2013–2015 | 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 10% | 2% | 5.2× | 20,435 |
Ford Fiesta by mileage (2017–2019 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 58,662 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (14%) | — |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 123,223 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (15%) | — |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 59,463 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (19%) | — |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 16,120 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (20%) | Stop lamp: not working (4.2%, 5.3×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 3,997 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (20%) | Swivel pins and bushes: swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (3.3%, 33×) |
| 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 1,181 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (22%) | Swivel pins and bushes: swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (3.7%, 37×) |
| 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 399 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (21%) | Stop lamp: not working (5.8%, 3.4×) |
Ford Fiesta by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 409 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (4.9×) |
| 1997 | 744 | Flexible brake hoses: slightly deteriorated at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (7.2×) |
| 1998 | 1,591 | Flexible brake hoses: slightly deteriorated at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (7.1×) |
| 1999 | 2,004 | Flexible brake hoses: slightly deteriorated at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (6.8×) |
| 2000 | 1,945 | Flexible brake hoses: slightly deteriorated at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (6.8×) |
| 2001 | 3,428 | Flexible brake hoses: slightly deteriorated at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (6.4×) |
| 2002 | 9,174 | Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded at 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) (2.4×) |
| 2003 | 18,836 | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (3×) |
| 2004 | 24,764 | Wheels (condition): slightly distorted at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (4.7×) |
| 2005 | 29,768 | Wheels (condition): slightly distorted at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (5.6×) |
| 2006 | 48,980 | Wheels (condition): slightly distorted at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (9.3×) |
| 2007 | 58,873 | Wheels (condition): slightly distorted at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (8.9×) |
| 2008 | 62,155 | Wheels (condition): slightly distorted at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (8.5×) |
| 2009 | 96,771 | Wheels (condition): slightly distorted at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (7.9×) |
| 2010 | 89,863 | Swivel pins and bushes: swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (12×) |
| 2011 | 87,135 | Swivel pins and bushes: swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (11×) |
| 2012 | 100,425 | Swivel pins and bushes: swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (11×) |
| 2013 | 114,522 | Swivel pins and bushes: swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (16×) |
| 2014 | 123,980 | Swivel pins and bushes: swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (22×) |
| 2015 | 127,326 | Swivel pins and bushes: swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (34×) |
| 2016 | 115,780 | Swivel pins and bushes: swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (35×) |
| 2017 | 91,039 | Swivel pins and bushes: swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn at 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) (55×) |
| 2018 | 93,578 | Swivel pins and bushes: swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (37×) |
| 2019 | 78,702 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (6×) |
| 2020 | 50,179 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (7×) |
| 2021 | 2,180 | Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (18×) |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Ford Fiesta?
In 1,435,519 UK MOT tests of the Ford Fiesta in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is swivel pins and bushes (swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn): recorded on 5.4% of tests of 2016–2018 cars at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km), 54× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: shock absorbers (a serious fluid leak) (18×); headlamp aim (too low) (9.1×); stop lamp (not working) (7.9×). The most common reasons a Ford Fiesta fails its MOT are stop lamp (not working); ball joint (ball joint excessively worn); position lamp (not working).
Why do Ford Fiestas fail the MOT?
Across 1,435,519 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Ford Fiesta were stop lamp (not working) (7% of tests); ball joint (ball joint excessively worn) (8.6% of tests); position lamp (not working) (7.5% of tests).
At what mileage do Ford Fiesta problems start?
The clearest Ford Fiesta-specific issue, swivel pins and bushes (swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn), peaks against other cars at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) on 2016–2018 cars (5.4% of tests vs 0.1% for all cars that age).
Where does this Ford Fiesta data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 1,435,519 tests of the Ford Fiesta. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.