2017 Ford Benimar — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Ford Benimar passed 94.8% of its 442 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 12.7% of the time, so this is 7.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 7.0% of all tests — 5.9 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, stop lamp and outline marker lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 11 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 8.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 2.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 6.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 31 |
| 2 | Tyres | 1.1% | 5 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.1% | 5 |
| 4 | Other defects | 0.9% | 4 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.9% | 4 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 7 |
| 3 | Outline marker lamp | 7 |
| 4 | Wipers | 5 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 5 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 5 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.8% | 39 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.6% | 38 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.1% | 18 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 17 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 6 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 2 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 403 | 4.7% |
| 30-60k | 39 | 10.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 87 | 2.3% |
| 2022 | 90 | 6.7% |
| 2023 | 88 | 4.5% |
| 2024 | 86 | 5.8% |
| 2025 | 91 | 6.6% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Benimar
On a 2017 Benimar, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (1.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (1.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2017 Ford Benimars pass their MOT?
94.8% of the 442 2017 Ford Benimar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Ford Benimar?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by tyres (1.1%).
Does the 2017 Benimar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.7% in the 0-30k band to 10.3% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 442 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.