1995 Ford Freda — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1995 Ford Freda passed 67.8% of its 267 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 24.1% of the time, so this is 8.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 18.7% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, integral vehicle structure condition and chassis condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 61 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 29.8% of 90-120k cars fail, rising to 33.9% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 43.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.2% in 2021 to 32.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.7% | 50 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 41 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.4% | 33 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.4% | 25 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.5% | 20 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.8% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 61 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 28 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 25 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 25 |
| 5 | Wipers | 19 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
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 | 43.5% | 116 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.8% | 93 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.8% | 77 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 27.0% | 72 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 46 |
| 6 | Tyres | 15.7% | 42 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90-120k | 67 | 29.8% |
| 120-150k | 67 | 32.8% |
| 150k+ | 127 | 33.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 38 | 34.2% |
| 2022 | 33 | 36.4% |
| 2023 | 33 | 36.4% |
| 2024 | 86 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 77 | 32.5% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Freda
On a 1995 Freda, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (18.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.4% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1995 Ford Fredas pass their MOT?
67.8% of the 267 1995 Ford Freda MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Ford Freda?
Suspension, recorded in 18.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.4%).
Does the 1995 Freda get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.8% in the 90-120k band to 33.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 267 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.