2012 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 650,063 MOT tests, the 2012 Ford Fiesta recorded a 75.8% pass rate. That is 1.6 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 22.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.0%) and suspension (12.8%) 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 track rod end — ball joint alone was recorded 52,537 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.8% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 23.4% fail against 26.8% for diesel, a 3.4-point gap across 650,040 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 29.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 84,796 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.8% | 83,524 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.6% | 42,939 |
| 4 | Steering | 3.9% | 25,474 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 25,145 |
| 6 | Brakes | 3.4% | 22,059 |
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 | 52,537 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 31,508 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 25,851 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 23,727 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 23,617 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 23,158 |
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 | 29.4% | 191,470 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.8% | 187,510 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.1% | 117,838 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.7% | 76,168 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 66,240 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 36,587 |
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 | 33,118 | 10.7% |
| 30-60k | 180,068 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 241,246 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 134,024 | 28.6% |
| 120-150k | 44,586 | 30.0% |
| 150k+ | 16,659 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 500,886 | 23.4% |
| Diesel | 149,154 | 26.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 131,051 | 22.0% |
| 2022 | 131,325 | 23.3% |
| 2023 | 131,486 | 24.6% |
| 2024 | 130,145 | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 126,056 | 25.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Fiesta
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.8% 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 (6.6% 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 2012 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 650,063 2012 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Ford Fiesta?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by suspension (12.8%).
Does the 2012 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.7% in the 0-30k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 650,063 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.