1997 Ford Ka — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 421 MOT tests, the 1997 Ford Ka recorded a 73.4% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail at 26.3%, so the 1997 Ka sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (11.6%) and brakes (10.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, prescribed areas and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 43 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.0% versus 18.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.6% in 2021 to 24.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.6% | 49 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.7% | 45 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 33 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 29 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.4% | 27 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.7% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 43 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 32 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 25 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 22 |
| 5 | Washers | 16 |
| 6 | Wipers | 15 |
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 | 36.3% | 153 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.3% | 119 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.2% | 81 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.9% | 67 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.3% | 39 |
| 6 | Visibility | 8.8% | 37 |
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 | 114 | 18.4% |
| 30-60k | 215 | 31.6% |
| 60-90k | 76 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 139 | 26.6% |
| 2022 | 101 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 82 | 31.7% |
| 2024 | 58 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 41 | 24.4% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Ka
On a 1997 Ka, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (11.6% 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.
- Brakes (10.7% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.8% 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+.
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 1997 Ford Kas pass their MOT?
73.4% of the 421 1997 Ford Ka MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Ford Ka?
Suspension, recorded in 11.6% of tests, followed by brakes (10.7%).
Does the 1997 Ka get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.4% in the 0-30k band to 25.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 421 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.