2000 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 13,556 MOT tests, the 2000 Ford Fiesta recorded a 67.7% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (29.4% fail rate), the 2000 Fiesta comes out 2.9pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 18.7% of all tests — 4.9 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, prescribed areas and pins and bushes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 2,119 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 36.0% versus 20.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 42.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.7% | 2,538 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.8% | 1,876 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.2% | 1,658 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 1,197 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.2% | 971 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.7% | 908 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 2,119 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 1,277 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 983 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 836 |
| 5 | Joints | 793 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 755 |
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 | 42.9% | 5,812 |
| 2 | Brakes | 41.1% | 5,572 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.4% | 3,577 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.3% | 2,758 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.8% | 1,597 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.3% | 1,390 |
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 | 879 | 20.7% |
| 30-60k | 4,689 | 29.4% |
| 60-90k | 4,824 | 35.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,208 | 35.6% |
| 120-150k | 734 | 34.6% |
| 150k+ | 211 | 36.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 13,357 | 32.4% |
| Diesel | 199 | 28.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,322 | 33.1% |
| 2022 | 3,297 | 32.4% |
| 2023 | 2,536 | 31.6% |
| 2024 | 1,903 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 1,498 | 31.9% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Fiesta
On a 2000 Fiesta, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (18.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (13.8% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.2% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2000 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
67.7% of the 13,556 2000 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Ford Fiesta?
Suspension, recorded in 18.7% of tests, followed by brakes (13.8%).
Does the 2000 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.7% in the 0-30k band to 36.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,556 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.