Ford Ka: suspension MOT failures
Of the 1,161,860 Ford Ka MOT tests in this dataset, 11.9% recorded at least one suspension failure. It shows up most on 2002 and 2007 cars.
Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair cost: £150–£450 per corner (rough UK ballpark, not a quote).
Suspension failures by year
| Model year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 421 | 11.6% |
| 1998 | 816 | 16.1% |
| 1999 | 1,339 | 20.3% |
| 2000 | 2,016 | 22.8% |
| 2001 | 4,499 | 24.3% |
| 2002 | 8,867 | 24.6% |
| 2003 | 14,348 | 22.5% |
| 2004 | 19,279 | 22.8% |
| 2005 | 22,547 | 23.1% |
| 2006 | 27,460 | 23.8% |
| 2007 | 37,531 | 25.5% |
| 2008 | 46,259 | 23.3% |
| 2009 | 118,660 | 15.1% |
| 2010 | 121,899 | 14.6% |
| 2011 | 101,667 | 13.3% |
| 2012 | 106,431 | 11.9% |
| 2013 | 113,514 | 9.7% |
| 2014 | 110,736 | 7.9% |
| 2015 | 79,685 | 9.3% |
| 2016 | 48,756 | 7.6% |
| 2017 | 72,332 | 1.1% |
Methodology & source. 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.