Common problems by part
Ford Fiesta road wheels problems
DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 481,387 MOT tests · Updated
At 9 years, 0.2 in 100 MOT tests of the Ford Fiesta failed on road wheels, against 0.4 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), 1,066 MOT tests with a fail
- By age: seen at 23 ages from 3 to 25 years, 5,660,045 MOT tests
- MOT tests at 9 years: 481,387 for the Ford Fiesta
Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.
What the MOT tests show
What we know
0.2 fails per 100 MOT tests at 9 years, against 0.4 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 9 (all test years). That is about average.
Why it matters
A road wheels fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.
What to check
Look for cracked or badly kerbed rims and check that every wheel nut is present; a vibration through the wheel at speed points to a bent rim or balance.
Ford Fiesta road wheels fails by age
| Age | MOT tests | Fails per 100 | All class 4 vehicles the same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 187,046 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| 4 | 251,578 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| 5 | 314,772 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| 6 | 381,553 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| 7 | 430,004 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| 8 | 459,355 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| 9 | 481,387 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| 10 | 464,662 | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| 11 | 424,219 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| 12 | 389,900 | 0.6 | 0.5 |
| 13 | 372,522 | 0.7 | 0.5 |
| 14 | 334,302 | 0.8 | 0.6 |
| 15 | 302,723 | 0.8 | 0.6 |
| 16 | 257,412 | 0.7 | 0.6 |
| 17 | 185,757 | 0.7 | 0.6 |
| 18 | 146,193 | 0.6 | 0.5 |
| 19* | 108,138 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 20* | 71,656 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| 21* | 45,547 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| 22* | 25,421 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| 23* | 13,036 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| 24* | 7,631 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| 25* | 5,231 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
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 road wheels at 9 years
Advisories (not fails)
- Road wheel condition: slightly distorted: 1.4 advisories per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.7. Road wheel slightly distorted MOT advisory
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- Model risks for this year and fuel
- What similar cars did at their next MOT
- Repairs ahead
- Viewing checklist
By engine and fuel
- 1.0 petrol: 0.2 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: 0.2 per 100 at 9 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 161,829 MOT tests)
- 1.4 petrol: 0.7 per 100 at 13 years, fails 1.4–1.6× as often as petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 102,526 MOT tests)
- 1.6 petrol: 0.2 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 for cracked or badly kerbed rims and check that every wheel nut is present; a vibration through the wheel at speed points to a bent rim or balance.
The most common advisory here in MOT records: Road wheel condition: slightly distorted.
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.
- Check a Ford Fiesta's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
- MOT advisory checker Paste an advisory or defect to read DVSA's wording, its grade and what tends to happen at the next MOT.
Other Ford Fiesta problems
Road wheels on rival models
- MINI Cooper and One road wheels problems: 0.4 per 100 MOT tests at 9 years, against 0.2 for the Ford Fiesta (168,855 MOT tests)
- Audi A1 road wheels problems: 0.2 per 100 MOT tests at 9 years, against 0.2 for the Ford Fiesta (95,113 MOT tests)
- Renault Clio road wheels problems: 0.5 per 100 MOT tests at 9 years, against 0.2 for the Ford Fiesta (94,996 MOT tests)
Questions people ask
Does the Ford Fiesta have more road wheels problems than other cars?
0.2 in 100 MOT tests at 9 years, against 0.4 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 road wheels problems?
0.2 in 100 MOT tests at 9 years failed on road wheels, against 0.4 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 481,387 MOT tests).
Sources
- 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