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Ford Ka steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 70,957 MOT tests · Updated

At 12 years, 1.5 in 100 MOT tests of the Ford Ka failed on steering, against 2.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 70,957 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), 1,029 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 21 ages from 3 to 23 years, 743,190 MOT tests
  • MOT tests at 12 years: 70,957 for the Ford Ka

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

What the MOT tests show

What we know

1.5 fails per 100 MOT tests at 12 years, against 2.8 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 12 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.

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 Ka steering fails by age

Ford Ka steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Ford Ka. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.0243 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 0.1), 10,163 MOT tests34 years: 1.2 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 21,065 MOT tests5 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 34,397 MOT tests56 years: 1.2 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 42,764 MOT tests7 years: 1.5 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 45,944 MOT tests78 years: 0.9 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 53,650 MOT tests9 years: 0.9 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 59,154 MOT tests910 years: 1.1 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 67,956 MOT tests11 years: 1.3 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 70,732 MOT tests1112 years: 1.4 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 70,957 MOT tests13 years: 1.3 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 70,543 MOT tests1314 years: 1.3 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 60,771 MOT tests15 years: 1.5 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 48,346 MOT tests1516 years: 1.4 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 31,394 MOT tests17 years: 1.3 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 15,810 MOT tests1718 years: 1.7 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 12,617 MOT tests19 years: 2.2 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 9,881 MOT tests1920 years: 2.6 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 7,400 MOT tests21 years: 3.3 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 5,022 MOT tests2122 years: 4.6 per 100 (all cars 4.0), 2,986 MOT tests23 years: 3.4 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 1,638 MOT tests23
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Ford Ka All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
310,1630.50.1
421,0651.20.2
534,3971.00.3
642,7641.20.5
745,9441.50.8
853,6500.91.2
959,1540.91.8
1067,9561.12.1
1170,7321.32.5
1270,9571.52.8
1370,5431.32.9
1460,7711.33.2
1548,3461.53.3
1631,3941.43.4
1715,8101.33.6
1812,6171.73.9
19*9,8812.24.1
20*7,4002.64.2
21*5,0223.34.2
22*2,9864.64.0
23*1,6383.43.9

All first-use years of the Ford Ka 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 steering at 12 years

Advisories (not fails)

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

  • 1.3 petrol: 1.1 per 100 at 16 years, fails less often than petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (0.3–0.4×) (all test years; 14,926 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.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Play in steering rack inner joint(s).

Check one Ford Ka, not the average

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

Other Ford Ka problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

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

1.5 in 100 MOT tests at 12 years, against 2.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 70,957 MOT tests).

How common are Ford Ka steering problems?

1.5 in 100 MOT tests at 12 years failed on steering, against 2.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 70,957 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, 743,190 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