2019 Ford EcoSport — MOT failures & pass rate
109,537 MOT tests on the 2019 Ford EcoSport are in this dataset, and 91.5% of them passed. That is effectively the same as small SUVs of a similar age (8.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.8% of tests against 3.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, stop lamp and headlamp aim — headlamp alone was recorded 3,397 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.8% once past 90-120k — 3.5× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.5% of the time against 9.0% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 7,401 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.5% | 3,850 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.6% | 2,904 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.8% | 1,970 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 378 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 319 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 3,397 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 2,660 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,203 |
| 4 | Washers | 1,658 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,211 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 1,084 |
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 | 22.0% | 24,114 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.1% | 8,897 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.1% | 6,705 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.4% | 1,577 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 1,451 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.1% | 1,244 |
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 | 72,614 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 33,665 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 3,008 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 211 | 20.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 105,018 | 8.5% |
| Diesel | 4,517 | 9.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,259 | 5.9% |
| 2022 | 27,346 | 6.4% |
| 2023 | 26,922 | 7.7% |
| 2024 | 26,718 | 9.3% |
| 2025 | 27,292 | 10.6% |
What to check before buying a 2019 EcoSport
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.5% 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.
- Brakes (2.6% 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.
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 2019 Ford EcoSports pass their MOT?
91.5% of the 109,537 2019 Ford EcoSport MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Ford EcoSport?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by tyres (3.5%).
Does the 2019 EcoSport get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 20.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 109,537 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.