2004 Ford Ka — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Ford Ka passed 65.3% of its 19,279 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail 29.6% of the time, so this is 5.1pp 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 — 6.8 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 4,608 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 24.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 40.0% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 36.0% in 2021 to 32.3% 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% | 4,393 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 3,078 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.4% | 1,815 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 1,686 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.8% | 1,502 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.8% | 1,310 |
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 | 4,608 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 1,658 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 1,462 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 1,172 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 1,148 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,089 |
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 | 39.4% | 7,604 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.8% | 5,746 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.6% | 4,938 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.1% | 4,072 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.6% | 3,007 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 2,051 |
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 | 2,759 | 24.8% |
| 30-60k | 8,772 | 33.6% |
| 60-90k | 6,036 | 39.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,489 | 40.0% |
| 120-150k | 172 | 44.2% |
| 150k+ | 30 | 40.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,672 | 36.0% |
| 2022 | 4,775 | 35.2% |
| 2023 | 3,464 | 33.3% |
| 2024 | 2,506 | 33.9% |
| 2025 | 1,862 | 32.3% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Ka
On a 2004 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 (16.0% 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 2004 Ford Kas pass their MOT?
65.3% of the 19,279 2004 Ford Ka MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Ford Ka?
Suspension, recorded in 22.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.0%).
Does the 2004 Ka get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.8% in the 0-30k band to 40.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,279 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.