2002 Ford Maverick — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Ford Maverick passed 66.2% of its 837 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 6.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 21.6% of all tests — 5.7 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, flexible brake hoses and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 178 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 47.5% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 43.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 34.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 37.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 21.6% | 181 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 133 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.5% | 105 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.0% | 92 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.1% | 51 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.7% | 48 |
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 | 178 |
| 2 | Flexible brake hoses | 76 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 64 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 56 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 54 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 49 |
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 | 43.9% | 367 |
| 2 | Brakes | 36.4% | 305 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 29.6% | 248 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.1% | 202 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 21.3% | 178 |
| 6 | Tyres | 21.1% | 177 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 81 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 221 | 35.3% |
| 90-120k | 250 | 33.2% |
| 120-150k | 167 | 31.7% |
| 150k+ | 101 | 47.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 292 | 34.3% |
| 2022 | 215 | 31.2% |
| 2023 | 138 | 34.1% |
| 2024 | 110 | 34.5% |
| 2025 | 82 | 37.8% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Maverick
On a 2002 Maverick, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (21.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2002 Ford Mavericks pass their MOT?
66.2% of the 837 2002 Ford Maverick MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Ford Maverick?
Suspension, recorded in 21.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.9%).
Does the 2002 Maverick get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.5% in the 30-60k band to 47.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 837 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.