2001 Ford Ka — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,499 MOT tests, the 2001 Ford Ka recorded a 66.5% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 28.8% of the time, so this is 4.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 24.3% of tests against 13.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, pins and bushes and prescribed areas — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,145 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 27.1% in the 0-30k band and 39.8% in the 90-120k band, a 12.7-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 45.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 24.3% | 1,092 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 616 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.5% | 381 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 364 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.5% | 336 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 7.2% | 323 |
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 | 1,145 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 499 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 456 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 338 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 295 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 291 |
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 | 45.0% | 2,023 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.8% | 1,298 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.5% | 1,148 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.5% | 653 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.9% | 624 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.1% | 544 |
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 | 789 | 27.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,225 | 32.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,263 | 38.5% |
| 90-120k | 216 | 39.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,584 | 33.8% |
| 2022 | 1,130 | 32.9% |
| 2023 | 820 | 34.5% |
| 2024 | 563 | 33.0% |
| 2025 | 402 | 32.8% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Ka
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 24.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (24.3% 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 (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.5% 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 2001 Ford Kas pass their MOT?
66.5% of the 4,499 2001 Ford Ka MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Ford Ka?
Suspension, recorded in 24.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.7%).
Does the 2001 Ka get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.1% in the 0-30k band to 39.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,499 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.