2011 Ford Galaxy — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Ford Galaxy passed 74.4% of its 31,693 recorded MOT tests. Against MPVs of a similar age (24.2% fail rate), the 2011 Galaxy comes out 1.4pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.1% of all tests — 9.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, joints and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 3,239 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2011 Galaxy fails 21.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 25.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 4.0 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 24.8% of the time against 25.8% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 5,725 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.6% | 2,715 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 2,425 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.2% | 2,274 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.6% | 1,762 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,042 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 3,239 |
| 2 | Joints | 1,914 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 1,854 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 1,771 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,364 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,159 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 34.0% | 10,778 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.7% | 10,057 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.4% | 8,066 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 5,475 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.9% | 4,722 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.5% | 3,952 |
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 | 164 | 21.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,504 | 18.6% |
| 60-90k | 6,386 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 9,316 | 26.0% |
| 120-150k | 6,856 | 27.1% |
| 150k+ | 7,349 | 25.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 28,187 | 25.8% |
| Petrol | 3,506 | 24.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,230 | 23.6% |
| 2022 | 6,737 | 24.6% |
| 2023 | 6,429 | 26.3% |
| 2024 | 5,915 | 27.1% |
| 2025 | 5,382 | 27.3% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Galaxy
On a 2011 Galaxy, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.6% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.6% 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 2011 Ford Galaxys pass their MOT?
74.4% of the 31,693 2011 Ford Galaxy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Ford Galaxy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.1% of tests, followed by suspension (8.6%).
Does the 2011 Galaxy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.9% in the 0-30k band to 25.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,693 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.