2012 Ford Galaxy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 32,315 MOT tests, the 2012 Ford Galaxy recorded a 75.0% pass rate. That is 2.6 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 22.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests against 8.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and pins and bushes — position lamp alone was recorded 3,308 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2012 Galaxy fails 21.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 24.0% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.5 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 24.3% of the time against 25.1% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 5,735 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.3% | 2,666 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.2% | 2,343 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 2,062 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.5% | 1,768 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.3% | 1,066 |
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 | 3,308 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 1,918 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,868 |
| 4 | Joints | 1,853 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,379 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,193 |
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 | 32.2% | 10,399 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.2% | 10,070 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.3% | 8,159 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 5,377 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.0% | 4,520 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 3,214 |
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 | 246 | 21.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,248 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 7,343 | 24.2% |
| 90-120k | 8,956 | 26.7% |
| 120-150k | 6,185 | 27.0% |
| 150k+ | 7,156 | 24.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 29,460 | 25.1% |
| Petrol | 2,854 | 24.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,461 | 22.9% |
| 2022 | 6,917 | 24.1% |
| 2023 | 6,442 | 25.5% |
| 2024 | 5,994 | 27.0% |
| 2025 | 5,501 | 26.4% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Galaxy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.3% 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.
- Tyres (7.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2012 Ford Galaxys pass their MOT?
75.0% of the 32,315 2012 Ford Galaxy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Ford Galaxy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by suspension (8.3%).
Does the 2012 Galaxy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.5% in the 0-30k band to 24.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 32,315 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.