2010 Ford Ka — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 121,899 MOT tests, the 2010 Ford Ka recorded a 74.0% pass rate. That is 1.8 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.2%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 14.6% of tests against 10.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, rbt (sp) and ball joint — shock absorbers alone was recorded 10,537 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.8% versus 13.9%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 25.9% fail against 28.9% for diesel, a 2.9-point gap across 121,899 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 42.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.6% | 17,819 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.6% | 12,894 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 12,611 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.4% | 6,586 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.2% | 6,310 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 4,663 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 10,537 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 6,192 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 5,906 |
| 4 | Wipers | 4,545 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 4,319 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 3,985 |
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 | 42.4% | 51,691 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.8% | 33,933 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.5% | 22,584 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.9% | 19,330 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.5% | 10,352 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.1% | 9,843 |
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 | 7,197 | 13.9% |
| 30-60k | 36,284 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 51,334 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 22,058 | 30.5% |
| 120-150k | 4,265 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 724 | 31.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 117,031 | 25.9% |
| Diesel | 4,868 | 28.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,264 | 23.7% |
| 2022 | 25,294 | 25.2% |
| 2023 | 24,915 | 26.1% |
| 2024 | 24,052 | 27.6% |
| 2025 | 22,374 | 28.0% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Ka
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 14.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (14.6% 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.
- Brakes (10.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2010 Ford Kas pass their MOT?
74.0% of the 121,899 2010 Ford Ka MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Ford Ka?
Suspension, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by brakes (10.6%).
Does the 2010 Ka get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.9% in the 0-30k band to 31.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 121,899 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.