2016 Ford Freedom — MOT failures & pass rate
1,963 MOT tests on the 2016 Ford Freedom are in this dataset, and 87.4% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (14.5% fail rate), the 2016 Freedom comes out 1.9pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.0%) and brakes (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 64 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.9% versus 8.7%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.0% | 98 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.0% | 78 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 76 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 63 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 50 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 35 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 64 |
| 2 | Wipers | 56 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 52 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 45 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 27 |
| 6 | On or after 01/01/2014 | 27 |
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 | 18.9% | 371 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.7% | 249 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.3% | 84 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.9% | 76 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.6% | 70 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.2% | 63 |
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 | 715 | 8.7% |
| 30-60k | 684 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 245 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 120 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 80 | 21.3% |
| 150k+ | 119 | 21.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 405 | 12.1% |
| 2022 | 385 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 394 | 12.7% |
| 2024 | 383 | 12.5% |
| 2025 | 396 | 16.4% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Freedom
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.0% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.0% 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.
- Brakes (4.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (3.9% 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
How many 2016 Ford Freedoms pass their MOT?
87.4% of the 1,963 2016 Ford Freedom MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Ford Freedom?
Tyres, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by brakes (4.0%).
Does the 2016 Freedom get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.7% in the 0-30k band to 21.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,963 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.