2007 Ford Fusion — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Ford Fusion passed 75.7% of its 51,617 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (27.8% fail rate), the 2007 Fusion comes out 3.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.0% of tests against 8.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — stop lamp alone was recorded 4,267 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.3% once past 150k — 2.9× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 23.6% fail against 26.6% for diesel, a 2.9-point gap across 51,617 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.0% | 9,820 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.9% | 4,591 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.5% | 4,404 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.4% | 2,768 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.1% | 2,628 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 2,606 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 4,267 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,455 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,237 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 2,587 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 2,426 |
| 6 | Wipers | 2,263 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 35.0% | 18,069 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.6% | 14,743 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.1% | 12,416 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 8,125 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.8% | 7,145 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.7% | 6,060 |
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 | 1,151 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 10,075 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 17,723 | 23.5% |
| 90-120k | 14,618 | 27.8% |
| 120-150k | 5,984 | 29.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,981 | 31.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 39,448 | 23.6% |
| Diesel | 12,169 | 26.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,136 | 23.4% |
| 2022 | 11,267 | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 10,535 | 24.5% |
| 2024 | 9,408 | 24.7% |
| 2025 | 8,271 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Fusion
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.9% 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.
- Brakes (8.5% 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 2007 Ford Fusions pass their MOT?
75.7% of the 51,617 2007 Ford Fusion MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Ford Fusion?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.0% of tests, followed by suspension (8.9%).
Does the 2007 Fusion get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 31.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 51,617 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.