Ford Freedom MOT pass rate & common failures
The Ford Freedom appears in 7,688 MOT tests spanning model years 1995–2022, and 86.8% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (12.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.6%) and visibility (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 289 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.0% versus 9.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Freedom model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,963 | 87.4% | 12.6% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 3,034 | 87.2% | 12.8% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 1,510 | 86.6% | 13.4% | Visibility |
| 2019 | 424 | 85.1% | 14.9% | Visibility |
| 2020 | 522 | 85.8% | 14.2% | Visibility |
| 2021 | 214 | 86.0% | 14.0% | Visibility |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.6% | 354 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.3% | 328 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 307 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.4% | 259 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 200 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 140 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.4% | 109 |
| 8 | Suspension | 1.0% | 80 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 289 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 213 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 191 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 177 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 128 |
| 6 | Washers | 95 |
| 7 | On or after 01/01/2014 | 85 |
| 8 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 58 |
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 | 20.2% | 1,553 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.8% | 904 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.9% | 455 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.6% | 356 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 277 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 262 |
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 | 3,522 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,396 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 790 | 16.2% |
| 90-120k | 417 | 20.6% |
| 120-150k | 245 | 22.0% |
| 150k+ | 318 | 22.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,332 | 11.3% |
| 2022 | 1,427 | 12.3% |
| 2023 | 1,599 | 12.3% |
| 2024 | 1,627 | 13.4% |
| 2025 | 1,703 | 16.1% |
What to check before buying a Ford Freedom
- Tyres (4.6% 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.
- Visibility (4.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Ford Freedom?
86.8% of the 7,688 Ford Freedom MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 13.2% fail rate, across model years 1995–2022.
What does the Ford Freedom most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 4.6% of tests, then visibility (4.3%).
How much does mileage affect Freedom MOT results?
Fail rates run at 9.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 22.0% for 150k+, a 12.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,688 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.