2017 Ford Freedom — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Ford Freedom passed 87.2% of its 3,034 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail at 12.7%, so the 2017 Freedom sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.7%) and lighting & signalling (4.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, exhaust system and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 91 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.4% versus 7.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.7% | 141 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 128 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.7% | 113 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 111 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 83 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 58 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 91 |
| 2 | Exhaust system | 83 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 71 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 68 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 55 |
| 6 | On or after 01/01/2014 | 45 |
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 | 19.6% | 594 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.1% | 366 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.7% | 174 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.4% | 134 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 127 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 106 |
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 | 1,221 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 943 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 360 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 226 | 20.8% |
| 120-150k | 127 | 23.6% |
| 150k+ | 157 | 20.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 615 | 11.1% |
| 2022 | 611 | 12.3% |
| 2023 | 610 | 12.0% |
| 2024 | 582 | 13.1% |
| 2025 | 616 | 15.9% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Freedom
On a 2017 Freedom, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.7% 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 (4.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.7% 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.
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 2017 Ford Freedoms pass their MOT?
87.2% of the 3,034 2017 Ford Freedom MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Ford Freedom?
Tyres, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.2%).
Does the 2017 Freedom get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 20.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,034 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.