2020 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
166,281 MOT tests on the 2020 Ford Fiesta are in this dataset, and 91.0% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail at 8.8%, so the 2020 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 (5.1%) and tyres (4.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, shock absorbers and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 10,360 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.9% once past 150k — 3.0× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (10.5% vs 8.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.3% in 2021 to 9.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 8,428 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.2% | 6,956 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.9% | 3,185 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 2,579 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.5% | 2,415 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 1,198 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 10,360 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 3,639 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 3,344 |
| 4 | Washers | 2,200 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,983 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 904 |
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 | 21.9% | 36,465 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.9% | 18,171 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.9% | 8,126 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.8% | 6,352 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.9% | 3,205 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.3% | 2,113 |
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 | 105,683 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 53,810 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 5,633 | 14.1% |
| 90-120k | 888 | 11.7% |
| 120-150k | 195 | 11.3% |
| 150k+ | 64 | 21.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 161,047 | 8.9% |
| Diesel | 4,949 | 10.5% |
| Hybrid | 283 | 6.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 113 | 13.3% |
| 2022 | 2,861 | 7.9% |
| 2023 | 55,772 | 9.2% |
| 2024 | 53,291 | 8.5% |
| 2025 | 54,244 | 9.3% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Fiesta
On a 2020 Fiesta, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (5.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.2% 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 (1.9% 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 2020 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
91.0% of the 166,281 2020 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Ford Fiesta?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by tyres (4.2%).
Does the 2020 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 21.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 166,281 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.