2011 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 564,525 MOT tests, the 2011 Ford Fiesta recorded a 75.1% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail at 23.9%, so the 2011 Fiesta sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.2%) and suspension (13.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, stop lamp and position lamp — ball joint alone was recorded 45,226 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.2% versus 10.8%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.8pp more often than petrol ones (27.0% vs 24.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 74,556 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.2% | 74,545 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.4% | 41,867 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.9% | 22,267 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.7% | 20,900 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 19,892 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 45,226 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 25,869 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 21,769 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 20,151 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 20,101 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 17,176 |
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 | 29.7% | 167,605 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.4% | 160,589 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.8% | 106,301 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.8% | 72,207 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 53,742 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 7.1% | 39,933 |
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 | 19,812 | 10.8% |
| 30-60k | 121,791 | 18.7% |
| 60-90k | 201,569 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 143,582 | 28.6% |
| 120-150k | 55,422 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 22,128 | 30.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 415,828 | 24.1% |
| Diesel | 148,684 | 27.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 115,844 | 23.0% |
| 2022 | 115,418 | 24.0% |
| 2023 | 114,482 | 25.1% |
| 2024 | 111,883 | 26.0% |
| 2025 | 106,898 | 26.3% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Fiesta
On a 2011 Fiesta, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.2% 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.
- Tyres (7.4% 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.
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 2011 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
75.1% of the 564,525 2011 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Ford Fiesta?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by suspension (13.2%).
Does the 2011 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 564,525 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.