2011 Ford Ka — MOT failures & pass rate
101,667 MOT tests on the 2011 Ford Ka are in this dataset, and 76.9% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail at 22.6%, so the 2011 Ka sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 13.3% of all tests — 3.7 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, ball joint and pins and bushes — shock absorbers alone was recorded 9,347 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.5% versus 12.2%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.4pp more often than petrol ones (26.3% vs 22.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 41.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.3% | 13,480 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 9,725 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.3% | 6,449 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.0% | 5,067 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 4,287 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 3,399 |
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 | 9,347 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 4,339 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 4,283 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 3,110 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 2,842 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 2,819 |
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 | 41.1% | 41,779 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.8% | 28,214 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.4% | 16,673 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.2% | 15,440 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 8,858 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.7% | 8,816 |
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 | 7,943 | 12.2% |
| 30-60k | 36,339 | 20.1% |
| 60-90k | 40,434 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 14,088 | 28.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,332 | 29.9% |
| 150k+ | 472 | 30.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 97,252 | 22.9% |
| Diesel | 4,415 | 26.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,424 | 20.6% |
| 2022 | 20,802 | 21.8% |
| 2023 | 20,796 | 23.3% |
| 2024 | 20,346 | 24.7% |
| 2025 | 19,299 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Ka
On a 2011 Ka, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.3% 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 (9.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.3% 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 2011 Ford Kas pass their MOT?
76.9% of the 101,667 2011 Ford Ka MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Ford Ka?
Suspension, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.6%).
Does the 2011 Ka get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.2% in the 0-30k band to 30.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 101,667 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.