2019 Ford Galaxy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 12,974 MOT tests, the 2019 Ford Galaxy recorded an 86.8% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail 11.4% of the time, so this is 1.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.4% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, tread depth and wipers — headlamp alone was recorded 728 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2019 Galaxy fails 9.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.1 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 13.2% of the time against 13.3% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.4% | 1,089 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.5% | 589 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.4% | 440 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.6% | 340 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 262 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.9% | 241 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 728 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 410 |
| 3 | Wipers | 398 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 357 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 225 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 223 |
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 | 21.4% | 2,780 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.5% | 2,146 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.2% | 1,066 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 405 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 394 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 316 |
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 | 3,579 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 5,266 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,479 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 880 | 13.0% |
| 120-150k | 415 | 10.8% |
| 150k+ | 354 | 9.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,282 | 13.2% |
| Petrol | 692 | 13.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 686 | 9.2% |
| 2022 | 3,207 | 13.2% |
| 2023 | 3,078 | 12.6% |
| 2024 | 3,048 | 13.8% |
| 2025 | 2,955 | 14.1% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Galaxy
On a 2019 Galaxy, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.5% 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.
- Visibility (3.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2019 Ford Galaxys pass their MOT?
86.8% of the 12,974 2019 Ford Galaxy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Ford Galaxy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.4% of tests, followed by tyres (4.5%).
Does the 2019 Galaxy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 9.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,974 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.