The top 10 in this list, model by model
1 · About average
Ford Puma (first used from 2019)
Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.74, 95% CI 0.73–0.75), from 170,643 MOT tests at 3 to 5 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 8.5% (8.4%–8.6%), against 11.5% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 8.1%. Rank range 1–1.
Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).
Suits: buyers looking at a small SUV; the ones tested were mostly petrol; this row covers cars first used from 2019.
2 · About average
Ford Edge
Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.80, 95% CI 0.78–0.82), from 34,268 MOT tests at 4 to 9 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 14.4% (14.1%–14.8%), against 18.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 15.1%. Rank range 2–2.
Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).
Suits: buyers looking at a large SUV; the ones tested were mostly diesel.
3 · About average
Ford Kuga
Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.90, 95% CI 0.90–0.91), from 1,120,285 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 19.2% (19.1%–19.3%), against 21.3% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 20.0%. Rank range 3–3.
Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).
Suits: buyers looking at a family SUV; the ones tested were 78% diesel, 19% petrol.
4 · About average
Ford Mondeo
Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.91, 95% CI 0.91–0.92), from 631,011 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 27.5% (27.4%–27.6%), against 30.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 29.9%. Rank range 4–4.
Check before you buy: fails on tyres 1.26–1.28× as often as cars the same age (54,823 fails in 635,235 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).
Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were 79% diesel, 20% petrol.
5 · About average
Ford C-Max
Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.97, 95% CI 0.96–0.97), from 425,746 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 28.7% (28.6%–28.9%), against 29.7% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 28.9%. Rank range 5–6.
Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).
Suits: buyers looking at an MPV; the ones tested were 52% petrol, 48% diesel.
6 · About average
Ford Fusion
Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.98, 95% CI 0.97–0.99), from 88,909 MOT tests at 11 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 39.3% (39.0%–39.6%), against 40.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 36.5%. Rank range 5–6.
Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).
Suits: buyers looking at a supermini; the ones tested were 76% petrol, 24% diesel.
7 · About average
Ford S-Max
Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.02), from 266,114 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 30.8% (30.7%–31.0%), against 30.3% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 33.3%. Rank range 7–8.
Check before you buy: fails on seat belts and airbags 2.1–2.2× as often as cars the same age (4,644 fails in 268,389 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on body and structure 1.7–1.8× as often as cars the same age (14,639 fails in 268,389 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on tyres 1.38–1.41× as often as cars the same age (25,362 fails in 268,389 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).
Suits: buyers looking at an MPV; the ones tested were mostly diesel.
8 · About average
Ford Focus
Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.02, 95% CI 1.02–1.02), from 3,110,121 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 28.0% (28.0%–28.1%), against 27.5% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 28.8%. Rank range 7–8.
Check before you buy: fails on lights and electrics 1.336–1.343× as often as cars the same age (421,702 fails in 3,133,092 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).
Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were 69% petrol, 31% diesel.
9 · About average
Ford Galaxy
Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.10, 95% CI 1.10–1.11), from 202,442 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 30.9% (30.7%–31.1%), against 28.0% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 33.8%. Rank range 9–10.
Check before you buy: fails on seat belts and airbags 2.3–2.5× as often as cars the same age (3,580 fails in 205,436 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on body and structure 1.95–2.02× as often as cars the same age (11,163 fails in 205,436 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on lights and electrics 1.69–1.73× as often as cars the same age (36,438 fails in 205,436 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).
Suits: buyers looking at an MPV; the ones tested were mostly diesel.
10 · About average
Ford Mustang
Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.13, 95% CI 1.10–1.15), from 37,368 MOT tests at 3 to 9 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 19.3% (18.9%–19.8%), against 17.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 15.9%. Rank range 9–12.
Check before you buy: fails on brakes 1.6–1.7× as often as cars the same age (2,035 fails in 37,920 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).
Suits: buyers looking at a sports car; the ones tested were mostly petrol.
How we rank
12,264,678 MOT tests from 2022–2025 of cars 3 to 15 years old. For each model and age, the tests are split into 6 mileage bands (<30k, 30-60k, 60-90k, 90-120k, 120-150k, 150k+); the expected fails are what all cars of that age would fail in the same bands, corrected to the model's own mix of test years. The ratio of the model's fails to the expected fails sets its place. The adjusted rate is that ratio times the all-car rate at the model's own ages, so it reads against that rate: a model tested only at 3 to 5 years is compared with young cars, not with this list's average.
The 95% intervals cover sampling error only (Wilson intervals). A model is called fewer or more only when its interval is at least 20% from the all-car rate, overall and at 3 or more ages ("close to average" when the interval excludes the all-car rate by less); awards use the same rule. Test years: Each model's expected fails therefore use its own mix of test years 2022–2025, age by age; the mileage bands themselves pool the four years, which can leave a small bias in favour of models first sold late in the window. Generations of a model are pooled unless the data splits them; each row says which years it covers. How we compare
Limitation: MOT tests record roadworthiness defects on the test day. They do not record breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs, and they cannot separate design from upkeep: a model whose owners service it before every MOT looks better here. Only cars still on the road are tested.