2001 Ford Galaxy — MOT failures & pass rate
2,504 MOT tests on the 2001 Ford Galaxy are in this dataset, and 66.6% of them passed. That is 3.7 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 29.7%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (20.1%) and lighting & signalling (18.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and chassis condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 330 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.4% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 35.4% once past 150k.
The diesel cars hold up better: 32.3% fail against 34.0% for petrol, a 1.7-point gap across 2,504 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 49.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.8% in 2021 to 30.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.1% | 502 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.5% | 463 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.7% | 394 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.3% | 282 |
| 5 | Steering | 8.3% | 209 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 144 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 330 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 205 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 173 |
| 4 | Joints | 170 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 156 |
| 6 | Steering rack | 155 |
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 | 49.5% | 1,239 |
| 2 | Suspension | 40.4% | 1,011 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.3% | 735 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.4% | 660 |
| 5 | Other defects | 23.1% | 579 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 411 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 77 | 23.4% |
| 60-90k | 323 | 29.4% |
| 90-120k | 558 | 32.8% |
| 120-150k | 700 | 34.4% |
| 150k+ | 834 | 35.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,627 | 34.0% |
| Diesel | 877 | 32.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 966 | 34.8% |
| 2022 | 640 | 33.8% |
| 2023 | 436 | 31.9% |
| 2024 | 281 | 31.7% |
| 2025 | 181 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Galaxy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 20.1% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (20.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (18.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2001 Ford Galaxys pass their MOT?
66.6% of the 2,504 2001 Ford Galaxy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Ford Galaxy?
Suspension, recorded in 20.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.5%).
Does the 2001 Galaxy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.4% in the 30-60k band to 35.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,504 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.