2002 Ford Ka — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Ford Ka passed 66.2% of its 8,867 recorded MOT tests. Against city cars of a similar age (29.3% fail rate), the 2002 Ka comes out 4.5pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 24.6% of all tests — 11.4 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, pins and bushes and prescribed areas — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 2,110 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 26.6% in the 0-30k band and 41.3% in the 90-120k band, a 14.7-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 45.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 35.0% in 2021 to 33.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 24.6% | 2,186 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 1,178 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.4% | 741 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 695 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.6% | 676 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.0% | 535 |
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 | 2,110 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 900 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 784 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 571 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 558 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 519 |
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 | 45.1% | 4,000 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.9% | 2,387 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.6% | 2,360 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.4% | 1,365 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.8% | 1,316 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.1% | 1,074 |
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 | 1,564 | 26.6% |
| 30-60k | 4,202 | 31.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,692 | 39.8% |
| 90-120k | 385 | 41.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,183 | 35.0% |
| 2022 | 2,203 | 33.7% |
| 2023 | 1,547 | 32.3% |
| 2024 | 1,093 | 32.8% |
| 2025 | 841 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Ka
On a 2002 Ka, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 24.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (24.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.4% 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 2002 Ford Kas pass their MOT?
66.2% of the 8,867 2002 Ford Ka MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Ford Ka?
Suspension, recorded in 24.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.3%).
Does the 2002 Ka get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.6% in the 0-30k band to 41.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,867 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.