2001 Ford Maverick — MOT failures & pass rate
325 MOT tests on the 2001 Ford Maverick are in this dataset, and 65.2% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), the 2001 Maverick comes out 7.5pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 22.1% of tests against 18.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and position lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 68 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 27.3% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 38.5% once past 150k.
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 39.3% in 2021 to 25.0% in 2024, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 22.1% | 72 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 59 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.8% | 32 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 31 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 24 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.2% | 20 |
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 | 68 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 26 |
| 4 | Flexible brake hoses | 26 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 18 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 16 |
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% | 138 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.5% | 112 |
| 3 | Other defects | 28.6% | 93 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 27.1% | 88 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 27.1% | 88 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 26.2% | 85 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 77 | 27.3% |
| 90-120k | 84 | 34.5% |
| 120-150k | 67 | 41.8% |
| 150k+ | 65 | 38.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 117 | 39.3% |
| 2022 | 82 | 34.2% |
| 2023 | 57 | 35.1% |
| 2024 | 40 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Maverick
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 22.1% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (22.1% 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 (18.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.8% 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 2001 Ford Mavericks pass their MOT?
65.2% of the 325 2001 Ford Maverick MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Ford Maverick?
Suspension, recorded in 22.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.1%).
Does the 2001 Maverick get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.3% in the 60-90k band to 38.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 325 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.