2017 Ford Journey — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 383 MOT tests analysed for the 2017 Ford Journey, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 78.3% was below the average for cars of a similar age (87.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 24.8% in the 150k+ group versus 17.8% in the 90-120k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.3% | 28 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.0% | 27 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 24 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.0% | 23 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 20 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | On or after 01/01/2014 | 15 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 14 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 11 |
| 4 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 10 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 10 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 9 |
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 | 25.3% | 97 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.6% | 75 |
| 3 | Other defects | 16.2% | 62 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.3% | 47 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.4% | 32 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.3% | 24 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90-120k | 45 | 17.8% |
| 120-150k | 74 | 20.3% |
| 150k+ | 206 | 24.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 71 | 16.9% |
| 2022 | 75 | 18.7% |
| 2023 | 79 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 88 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 70 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Journey
Before buying a 2017 Ford Journey, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 7.3% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (7.3% 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.
- Brakes (7.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (6.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2017 Ford Journeys pass their MOT?
78.3% of the 383 2017 Ford Journey MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Ford Journey?
Tyres, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by brakes (7.0%).
Does the 2017 Journey get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.8% in the 90-120k band to 24.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 383 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.