2010 Ford Fusion — MOT failures & pass rate
36,342 MOT tests on the 2010 Ford Fusion are in this dataset, and 79.9% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (25.1% fail rate), the 2010 Fusion comes out 5.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests against 7.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, rigid brake pipes and rear fog lamp — stop lamp alone was recorded 2,695 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.8% in the 0-30k band and 30.6% in the 150k+ band, a 20.7-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.6% fail against 23.2% for diesel, a 4.5-point gap across 36,342 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 5,904 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.3% | 2,645 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.9% | 2,130 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.5% | 1,638 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.0% | 1,435 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 1,234 |
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 | 2,695 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,422 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 1,409 |
| 4 | Wipers | 1,349 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,315 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 1,025 |
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 | 30.6% | 11,104 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.5% | 9,633 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.9% | 6,131 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 4,213 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.7% | 3,876 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.3% | 3,019 |
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 | 2,360 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 11,767 | 15.3% |
| 60-90k | 12,733 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 6,590 | 25.7% |
| 120-150k | 2,126 | 28.7% |
| 150k+ | 723 | 30.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 25,005 | 18.6% |
| Diesel | 11,337 | 23.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,463 | 17.3% |
| 2022 | 7,448 | 18.7% |
| 2023 | 7,466 | 20.6% |
| 2024 | 7,134 | 21.7% |
| 2025 | 6,831 | 22.3% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Fusion
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.3% 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.
- Suspension (5.9% 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.
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 2010 Ford Fusions pass their MOT?
79.9% of the 36,342 2010 Ford Fusion MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Ford Fusion?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by brakes (7.3%).
Does the 2010 Fusion get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 36,342 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.