2007 Ford Ka — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Ford Ka passed 65.2% of its 37,531 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 7.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 25.5% of tests against 15.9% 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 10,856 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 24.7% in the 0-30k band and 41.3% in the 150k+ band, a 16.6-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 42.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 36.2% in 2021 to 33.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 25.5% | 9,562 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 5,955 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 3,380 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.0% | 2,612 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.9% | 2,595 |
| 6 | Brakes | 5.5% | 2,081 |
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 | 10,856 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 3,680 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 3,035 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 3,030 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 3,026 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 2,222 |
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 | 42.5% | 15,944 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.4% | 10,292 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.5% | 6,938 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.9% | 5,969 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.8% | 4,800 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 3,430 |
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 | 4,824 | 24.7% |
| 30-60k | 17,224 | 33.4% |
| 60-90k | 12,380 | 38.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,766 | 41.8% |
| 120-150k | 257 | 38.5% |
| 150k+ | 46 | 41.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,644 | 36.2% |
| 2022 | 9,305 | 34.8% |
| 2023 | 6,952 | 33.9% |
| 2024 | 4,985 | 33.1% |
| 2025 | 3,645 | 33.7% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Ka
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 25.5% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (25.5% 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 (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.0% 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 2007 Ford Kas pass their MOT?
65.2% of the 37,531 2007 Ford Ka MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Ford Ka?
Suspension, recorded in 25.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.9%).
Does the 2007 Ka get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.7% in the 0-30k band to 41.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 37,531 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.