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Ford Fiesta body and structure problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 481,387 MOT tests · Updated

At 9 years, 1.8 in 100 MOT tests of the Ford Fiesta failed on body and structure, against 2.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 481,387 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), 8,698 MOT tests with a fail
  • When it starts: clear of 1.2 times from 24 years and at every older age seen
  • Most common fail: Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases, 0.9 per 100 MOT tests

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

What the MOT tests show

What we know

1.8 fails per 100 MOT tests at 9 years, against 2.3 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 9 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

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

What to check

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

Ford Fiesta body and structure fails by age

Ford Fiesta body and structure fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Ford Fiesta. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.0510153 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 187,046 MOT tests34 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 251,578 MOT tests5 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 314,772 MOT tests56 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 381,553 MOT tests7 years: 0.9 per 100 (all cars 1.3), 430,004 MOT tests78 years: 1.4 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 459,355 MOT tests9 years: 1.8 per 100 (all cars 2.3), 481,387 MOT tests910 years: 2.6 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 464,662 MOT tests11 years: 3.5 per 100 (all cars 3.5), 424,219 MOT tests1112 years: 4.4 per 100 (all cars 4.3), 389,900 MOT tests13 years: 5.1 per 100 (all cars 5.0), 372,522 MOT tests1314 years: 5.6 per 100 (all cars 5.9), 334,302 MOT tests15 years: 6.4 per 100 (all cars 6.7), 302,723 MOT tests1516 years: 6.9 per 100 (all cars 7.6), 257,412 MOT tests17 years: 7.2 per 100 (all cars 8.3), 185,757 MOT tests1718 years: 7.3 per 100 (all cars 8.7), 146,193 MOT tests19 years: 7.2 per 100 (all cars 9.0), 108,138 MOT tests1920 years: 7.0 per 100 (all cars 9.2), 71,656 MOT tests21 years: 7.6 per 100 (all cars 9.3), 45,547 MOT tests2122 years: 8.5 per 100 (all cars 9.4), 25,421 MOT tests23 years: 11.8 per 100 (all cars 9.5), 13,036 MOT tests2324 years: 15.0 per 100 (all cars 9.4), 7,631 MOT tests25 years: 16.4 per 100 (all cars 9.3), 5,231 MOT tests25
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Ford Fiesta All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
3187,0460.20.3
4251,5780.20.3
5314,7720.40.5
6381,5530.60.8
7430,0040.91.3
8459,3551.41.8
9481,3871.82.3
10464,6622.62.9
11424,2193.53.5
12389,9004.44.3
13372,5225.15.0
14334,3025.65.9
15302,7236.46.7
16257,4126.97.6
17185,7577.28.3
18146,1937.38.7
19*108,1387.29.0
20*71,6567.09.2
21*45,5477.69.3
22*25,4218.59.4
23*13,03611.89.5
24*7,63115.09.4
25*5,23116.49.3

All first-use years of the Ford Fiesta pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the body and structure at 9 years

Fails

Advisories (not fails)

Replace leaking exhaust section cost

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
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See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 1.0 petrol: 2.0 per 100 at 9 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 222,102 MOT tests)
  • 1.2 petrol: 1.4 per 100 at 9 years, fails less often than petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (0.7× (0.68–0.74×)) (all test years; 161,829 MOT tests)
  • 1.4 petrol: 4.3 per 100 at 13 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 102,526 MOT tests)
  • 1.6 petrol: 1.3 per 100 at 9 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 36,047 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases.

Check one Ford Fiesta, not the average

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

Other Ford Fiesta problems

Body and structure on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Ford Fiesta have more body and structure problems than other cars?

1.8 in 100 MOT tests at 9 years, against 2.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 481,387 MOT tests).

How common are Ford Fiesta body and structure problems?

1.8 in 100 MOT tests at 9 years failed on body and structure, against 2.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 481,387 MOT tests).

What is the most common Ford Fiesta body and structure fail?

0.9 in 100 MOT tests at 9 years: Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases (4,448 MOT tests with it).

At what age do Ford Fiesta body and structure fails start?

24 years: from then on the rate stays clear of 1.2 times all class 4 vehicles the same age at every age seen, 12,862 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, 5,660,045 MOT tests. 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