2015 Ford Ka — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Ford Ka passed 82.1% of its 79,685 recorded MOT tests. Against city cars of a similar age (15.6% fail rate), the 2015 Ka comes out 2.3pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 9.3% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, wipers and tread depth — shock absorbers alone was recorded 4,962 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.3% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 30.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.3% | 7,445 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.4% | 4,329 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.9% | 3,863 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.4% | 3,532 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.1% | 3,296 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 1,513 |
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 | 4,962 |
| 2 | Wipers | 2,744 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,344 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 2,180 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 1,875 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 1,602 |
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 | 30.3% | 24,127 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.7% | 20,480 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.9% | 11,846 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 5,213 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.8% | 4,603 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 2,527 |
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 | 24,796 | 12.0% |
| 30-60k | 39,759 | 18.7% |
| 60-90k | 12,959 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,842 | 27.4% |
| 120-150k | 209 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 69 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,615 | 14.9% |
| 2022 | 15,657 | 16.0% |
| 2023 | 15,987 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 16,155 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 16,271 | 21.2% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Ka
On a 2015 Ka, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (9.3% 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 (5.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2015 Ford Kas pass their MOT?
82.1% of the 79,685 2015 Ford Ka MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Ford Ka?
Suspension, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.4%).
Does the 2015 Ka get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.0% in the 0-30k band to 33.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 79,685 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.