2000 Ford Mondeo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,820 MOT tests, the 2000 Ford Mondeo recorded a 69.7% pass rate. Against large family cars of a similar age (27.9% fail rate), the 2000 Mondeo comes out 2.4pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 18.5% of all tests — 6.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 638 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.4% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.5% | 1,079 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.3% | 713 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 606 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 452 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.9% | 401 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 333 |
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 | 638 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 357 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 322 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 317 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 292 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 277 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 40.7% | 2,367 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.9% | 2,207 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.1% | 1,458 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.9% | 1,100 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.5% | 1,020 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.1% | 763 |
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 | 82 | 21.9% |
| 30-60k | 765 | 23.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,565 | 29.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,512 | 30.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,090 | 32.5% |
| 150k+ | 803 | 35.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,668 | 30.4% |
| Diesel | 152 | 27.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,773 | 31.3% |
| 2022 | 1,392 | 29.9% |
| 2023 | 1,118 | 30.2% |
| 2024 | 845 | 29.3% |
| 2025 | 692 | 30.2% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Mondeo
On a 2000 Mondeo, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (18.5% 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.
- Brakes (12.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2000 Ford Mondeos pass their MOT?
69.7% of the 5,820 2000 Ford Mondeo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Ford Mondeo?
Suspension, recorded in 18.5% of tests, followed by brakes (12.3%).
Does the 2000 Mondeo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.9% in the 0-30k band to 35.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,820 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.