2021 Ford EcoSport — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Ford EcoSport passed 89.9% of its 11,679 recorded MOT tests. Against small SUVs of a similar age (7.2% fail rate), the 2021 EcoSport comes out 2.9pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.3%) and lighting & signalling (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and rbt (sp) — headlamp aim alone was recorded 231 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.2% in the 0-30k band and 18.8% in the 60-90k band, a 10.5-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.1% of tests failed in 2023 against 9.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.3% | 621 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 420 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.4% | 393 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.9% | 222 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.6% | 73 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 38 |
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 | 231 |
| 2 | Washers | 178 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 169 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 146 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 116 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 101 |
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 | 21.2% | 2,473 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.0% | 821 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.9% | 688 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.4% | 161 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 99 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 74 |
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 | 8,930 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,635 | 16.1% |
| 60-90k | 112 | 18.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 183 | 7.1% |
| 2024 | 5,868 | 10.6% |
| 2025 | 5,622 | 9.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 EcoSport
On a 2021 EcoSport, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.4% 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 2021 Ford EcoSports pass their MOT?
89.9% of the 11,679 2021 Ford EcoSport MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Ford EcoSport?
Tyres, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.6%).
Does the 2021 EcoSport get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 18.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,679 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.