2017 Ford EcoSport — MOT failures & pass rate
76,830 MOT tests on the 2017 Ford EcoSport are in this dataset, and 86.4% of them passed. Against small SUVs of a similar age (11.9% fail rate), the 2017 EcoSport comes out 1.7pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.5% of tests against 4.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, wipers and headlamp aim — stop lamp alone was recorded 6,104 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.8% in the 0-30k band and 22.8% in the 120-150k band, a 15.1-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 13.5% of the time against 13.7% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 8,084 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.5% | 3,457 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.1% | 3,130 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.9% | 2,959 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 1,857 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 1,633 |
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 | 6,104 |
| 2 | Wipers | 2,810 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,088 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,617 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 1,350 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 1,345 |
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 | 23.9% | 18,383 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.6% | 11,217 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.4% | 11,078 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.7% | 5,916 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 3,490 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 2,216 |
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 | 26,159 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 39,021 | 15.1% |
| 60-90k | 10,052 | 21.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,311 | 25.0% |
| 120-150k | 149 | 22.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 63,153 | 13.5% |
| Diesel | 13,677 | 13.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,990 | 9.6% |
| 2022 | 15,283 | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 15,419 | 13.4% |
| 2024 | 15,476 | 15.6% |
| 2025 | 15,662 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a 2017 EcoSport
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.5% 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.
- Visibility (4.1% 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 EcoSports pass their MOT?
86.4% of the 76,830 2017 Ford EcoSport MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Ford EcoSport?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.5% of tests, followed by brakes (4.5%).
Does the 2017 EcoSport get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 22.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 76,830 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.