2014 Ford EcoSport — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 15,704 MOT tests, the 2014 Ford EcoSport recorded an 80.6% pass rate. Small SUVs of a similar age fail at 18.6%, so the 2014 EcoSport sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.7% of all tests — 5.7 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, headlamp aim and track rod end — stop lamp alone was recorded 1,221 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.7% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 19.2% of the time against 19.7% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 31.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 1,843 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.1% | 953 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.7% | 899 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.8% | 746 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.5% | 714 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.4% | 528 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 1,221 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 593 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 565 |
| 4 | Wipers | 544 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 445 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 431 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 31.8% | 4,991 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.6% | 4,169 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.8% | 2,642 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.1% | 1,581 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 1,028 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 813 |
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 | 1,205 | 11.0% |
| 30-60k | 6,668 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 5,646 | 22.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,737 | 27.2% |
| 120-150k | 309 | 28.5% |
| 150k+ | 74 | 25.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 8,955 | 19.2% |
| Diesel | 6,749 | 19.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,096 | 15.5% |
| 2022 | 3,075 | 16.5% |
| 2023 | 3,196 | 20.0% |
| 2024 | 3,186 | 21.4% |
| 2025 | 3,151 | 23.5% |
What to check before buying a 2014 EcoSport
On a 2014 EcoSport, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Tyres (5.7% 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.
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 2014 Ford EcoSports pass their MOT?
80.6% of the 15,704 2014 Ford EcoSport MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Ford EcoSport?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by brakes (6.1%).
Does the 2014 EcoSport get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.0% in the 0-30k band to 25.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,704 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.