2017 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 520,643 MOT tests, the 2017 Ford Fiesta recorded an 86.8% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail at 13.3%, so the 2017 Fiesta sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.0%) and tyres (4.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, headlamp aim and tread depth — stop lamp alone was recorded 19,465 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.3% in the 0-30k band and 22.8% in the 150k+ band, a 15.5-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.6pp more often than petrol ones (18.4% vs 12.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 36,552 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.9% | 25,707 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 22,819 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.2% | 11,652 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.0% | 10,415 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.3% | 6,994 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 19,465 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 13,980 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 13,344 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 12,259 |
| 5 | Washers | 7,590 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 7,372 |
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 | 25.7% | 133,935 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.7% | 65,939 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.9% | 56,575 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.7% | 34,912 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 10,315 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 8,771 |
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 | 178,217 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 248,902 | 14.5% |
| 60-90k | 74,825 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 14,186 | 23.7% |
| 120-150k | 2,961 | 23.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,120 | 22.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 482,998 | 12.8% |
| Diesel | 37,645 | 18.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 101,538 | 8.9% |
| 2022 | 103,816 | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 105,018 | 13.7% |
| 2024 | 104,889 | 15.3% |
| 2025 | 105,382 | 16.2% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Fiesta
On a 2017 Fiesta, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.9% 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.
- Suspension (4.4% 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.
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 2017 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
86.8% of the 520,643 2017 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Ford Fiesta?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by tyres (4.9%).
Does the 2017 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 22.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 520,643 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.