2001 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
23,532 MOT tests on the 2001 Ford Fiesta are in this dataset, and 68.5% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail 29.5% of the time, so this is 2.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 19.3% of tests against 12.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, prescribed areas and pins and bushes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 4,096 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 38.8% versus 20.2%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 31.5% of the time against 32.9% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 42.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.1% in 2021 to 30.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.3% | 4,545 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.8% | 3,003 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 2,346 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.6% | 2,265 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.5% | 1,534 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.5% | 1,531 |
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 | 4,096 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 2,483 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,775 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,391 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 1,307 |
| 6 | Flexible brake hoses | 1,194 |
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 | 42.8% | 10,077 |
| 2 | Brakes | 42.5% | 10,002 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.6% | 6,494 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.0% | 3,998 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.1% | 3,093 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.8% | 2,540 |
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 | 1,462 | 20.2% |
| 30-60k | 8,143 | 28.9% |
| 60-90k | 8,482 | 33.5% |
| 90-120k | 3,763 | 35.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,233 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 430 | 38.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 22,979 | 31.5% |
| Diesel | 553 | 32.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,562 | 32.1% |
| 2022 | 5,693 | 31.7% |
| 2023 | 4,430 | 31.9% |
| 2024 | 3,305 | 30.3% |
| 2025 | 2,542 | 30.2% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Fiesta
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 19.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (19.3% 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 (12.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2001 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
68.5% of the 23,532 2001 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Ford Fiesta?
Suspension, recorded in 19.3% of tests, followed by brakes (12.8%).
Does the 2001 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.2% in the 0-30k band to 38.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,532 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.