2023 Ford Galaxy — MOT failures & pass rate
328 MOT tests on the 2023 Ford Galaxy are in this dataset, and 92.1% of them passed. Against MPVs of a similar age (10.9% fail rate), the 2023 Galaxy comes out 3.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.0% of tests against 2.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, position lamp and wipers — headlamp alone was recorded 13 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 9.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 0.0% of tests failed in 2023 against 11.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 23 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.1% | 7 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.8% | 6 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.9% | 3 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.9% | 3 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 13 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 8 |
| 3 | Wipers | 4 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 3 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 3 |
| 6 | Front fog lamps | 2 |
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 | 9.8% | 32 |
| 2 | Other defects | 4.6% | 15 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 11 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.1% | 7 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.2% | 4 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.3% | 1 |
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 | 190 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 117 | 12.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 253 | 7.9% |
| Diesel | 75 | 8.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 55 | 0.0% |
| 2024 | 86 | 4.7% |
| 2025 | 187 | 11.8% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Galaxy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.1% 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 (1.8% 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 2023 Ford Galaxys pass their MOT?
92.1% of the 328 2023 Ford Galaxy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Ford Galaxy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by tyres (2.1%).
Does the 2023 Galaxy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 12.0% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 328 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.