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Ford Ecosport steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 75,520 MOT tests · Updated

At 6 years, 0.5 in 100 MOT tests of the Ford Ecosport failed on steering, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 75,520 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 364 MOT tests with a fail
  • When it starts: clear of 1.2 times from 7 years and at every older age seen
  • Most common fail: Steering track rod end: ball joint play, 0.4 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.5 fails per 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 6 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

Ford Ecosport steering fails by age

Ford Ecosport steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Ford Ecosport. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.02463 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.1), 50,648 MOT tests34 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 61,778 MOT tests45 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 70,185 MOT tests56 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 75,520 MOT tests67 years: 1.1 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 61,064 MOT tests78 years: 2.3 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 40,701 MOT tests89 years: 3.2 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 27,236 MOT tests910 years: 4.5 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 12,889 MOT tests1011 years: 6.8 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 2,473 MOT tests11
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Ford Ecosport All class 4 vehicles the same age
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
350,6480.10.1
461,7780.10.2
570,1850.20.3
675,5200.50.5
761,0641.10.8
840,7012.31.2
927,2363.21.8
1012,8894.52.1
112,4736.82.5

All first-use years of the Ford Ecosport pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years.

What fails in the steering at 6 years

Fails

  • Steering track rod end: ball joint play: 0.4 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.2. Replace track rod end: estimated £54–£128 (0.5–1 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts £15–£50) Track rod end ball joint has excessive play MOT fail

Replace track rod end cost

Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.

Buying a Ford Ecosport? Check that exact car before the viewing.

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 1.0 petrol: 0.4 per 100 at 6 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 60,200 MOT tests)
  • 1.5 diesel: 1.1 per 100 at 6 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 8,988 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

Check one Ford Ecosport, not the average

The figures here describe Ford Ecosport cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Ford Ecosport problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Ford Ecosport have more steering problems than other cars?

0.5 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 75,520 MOT tests).

How common are Ford Ecosport steering problems?

0.5 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years failed on steering, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 75,520 MOT tests).

What is the most common Ford Ecosport steering fail?

0.4 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years: Steering track rod end: ball joint play (281 MOT tests with it).

At what age do Ford Ecosport steering fails start?

7 years: from then on the rate stays clear of 1.2 times all class 4 vehicles the same age at every age seen, 144,363 MOT tests.

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 402,494 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
  2. Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare