2000 Ford Ka — MOT failures & pass rate
2,016 MOT tests on the 2000 Ford Ka are in this dataset, and 67.7% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail 28.2% of the time, so this is 4.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 22.8% of all tests — 11.5 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, prescribed areas and pins and bushes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 500 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 25.6% in the 0-30k band and 34.3% in the 90-120k band, a 8.6-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 42.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.1% in 2021 to 31.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 22.8% | 459 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 228 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.4% | 190 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 8.3% | 168 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 158 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.1% | 144 |
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 | 500 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 256 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 213 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 117 |
| 5 | Wipers | 111 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 109 |
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 | 42.9% | 864 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.7% | 598 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.1% | 505 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.2% | 286 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.1% | 263 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.9% | 241 |
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 | 410 | 25.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,003 | 31.3% |
| 60-90k | 528 | 39.2% |
| 90-120k | 73 | 34.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 745 | 34.1% |
| 2022 | 509 | 32.8% |
| 2023 | 341 | 31.4% |
| 2024 | 237 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 184 | 31.5% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Ka
On a 2000 Ka, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 22.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (22.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.4% 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.
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 2000 Ford Kas pass their MOT?
67.7% of the 2,016 2000 Ford Ka MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Ford Ka?
Suspension, recorded in 22.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.3%).
Does the 2000 Ka get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.6% in the 0-30k band to 34.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,016 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.