2014 Ford Galaxy — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Ford Galaxy passed 76.0% of its 30,740 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.2 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 18.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.7% of tests against 7.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, joints and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 3,546 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.5% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 22.8% of the time against 24.0% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.7% | 5,739 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 2,253 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.2% | 2,229 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.1% | 1,551 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.9% | 1,509 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.9% | 880 |
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 | 3,546 |
| 2 | Joints | 2,050 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 1,818 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,490 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,280 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 989 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 30.3% | 9,300 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.2% | 7,438 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.1% | 6,176 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 4,495 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.7% | 3,889 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 2,497 |
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 | 498 | 13.9% |
| 30-60k | 4,351 | 19.6% |
| 60-90k | 8,698 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 6,886 | 25.9% |
| 120-150k | 4,157 | 26.0% |
| 150k+ | 6,037 | 24.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 30,087 | 24.0% |
| Petrol | 653 | 22.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,619 | 21.2% |
| 2022 | 6,479 | 23.0% |
| 2023 | 6,290 | 24.5% |
| 2024 | 5,893 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 5,459 | 26.0% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Galaxy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.3% 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+.
- 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 2014 Ford Galaxys pass their MOT?
76.0% of the 30,740 2014 Ford Galaxy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Ford Galaxy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.7% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (7.3%).
Does the 2014 Galaxy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.9% in the 0-30k band to 24.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 30,740 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.