2002 Ford Galaxy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,944 MOT tests, the 2002 Ford Galaxy recorded a 67.7% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail 29.8% of the time, so this is 2.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (20.2%) and lighting & signalling (19.9%) 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 headlamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 565 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 33.8% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 32.1% of the time against 32.8% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 46.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.6% in 2021 to 27.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.2% | 795 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 783 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.0% | 550 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.5% | 453 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.4% | 292 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.2% | 245 |
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 | 565 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 411 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 267 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 262 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 247 |
| 6 | Steering rack | 235 |
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 | 46.9% | 1,851 |
| 2 | Suspension | 44.6% | 1,758 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.6% | 1,169 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.1% | 1,031 |
| 5 | Other defects | 22.7% | 894 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 21.1% | 834 |
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 | 111 | 25.2% |
| 60-90k | 372 | 30.6% |
| 90-120k | 901 | 29.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,152 | 34.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,380 | 33.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,395 | 32.1% |
| Petrol | 1,549 | 32.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,508 | 32.6% |
| 2022 | 1,022 | 33.7% |
| 2023 | 667 | 32.4% |
| 2024 | 440 | 31.8% |
| 2025 | 307 | 27.7% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Galaxy
On a 2002 Galaxy, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (20.2% 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 (19.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.0% 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 2002 Ford Galaxys pass their MOT?
67.7% of the 3,944 2002 Ford Galaxy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Ford Galaxy?
Suspension, recorded in 20.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (19.9%).
Does the 2002 Galaxy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.2% in the 30-60k band to 33.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,944 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.