2018 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
512,980 MOT tests on the 2018 Ford Fiesta are in this dataset, and 90.7% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail 11.2% of the time, so this is 1.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.8%) and lighting & signalling (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 15,119 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.1% in the 0-30k band and 19.3% in the 150k+ band, a 13.2-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 9.2% fail against 12.3% for diesel, a 3.1-point gap across 512,979 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.8% | 24,730 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 21,909 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.3% | 11,561 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.9% | 9,674 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 4,041 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 3,788 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 15,119 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 14,964 |
| 3 | Washers | 9,089 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 8,350 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 4,276 |
| 6 | Wipers | 3,489 |
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% | 131,932 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.2% | 67,464 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.7% | 29,085 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.5% | 7,768 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.3% | 6,834 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.3% | 6,427 |
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 | 244,909 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 214,494 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 46,348 | 15.6% |
| 90-120k | 5,900 | 18.6% |
| 120-150k | 976 | 20.2% |
| 150k+ | 306 | 19.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 495,167 | 9.2% |
| Diesel | 17,812 | 12.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 102,324 | 6.8% |
| 2022 | 101,973 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 102,923 | 9.5% |
| 2024 | 102,246 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 103,514 | 11.5% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Fiesta
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2018 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
90.7% of the 512,980 2018 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Ford Fiesta?
Tyres, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.3%).
Does the 2018 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 19.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 512,980 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.