2002 Ford Mondeo — MOT failures & pass rate
15,918 MOT tests on the 2002 Ford Mondeo are in this dataset, and 70.2% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 28.1% of the time, so this is 1.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.8%) and brakes (14.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), rigid brake pipes and catalyst emissions — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 1,010 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.4% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 29.6% of the time against 30.8% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 43.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.8% | 2,512 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.5% | 2,310 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 1,929 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 976 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 928 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.8% | 916 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 1,010 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 956 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 799 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 783 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 746 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 724 |
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 | 43.6% | 6,937 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.3% | 5,775 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.9% | 4,289 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.8% | 2,991 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.4% | 2,769 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.2% | 2,424 |
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 | 143 | 14.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,061 | 21.1% |
| 60-90k | 3,277 | 26.8% |
| 90-120k | 4,965 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 3,487 | 32.1% |
| 150k+ | 2,970 | 33.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 12,748 | 29.6% |
| Diesel | 3,170 | 30.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,204 | 30.5% |
| 2022 | 3,854 | 29.7% |
| 2023 | 2,992 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 2,196 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 1,672 | 29.4% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Mondeo
On a 2002 Mondeo, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.8% 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 (14.5% 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 (12.1% 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 2002 Ford Mondeos pass their MOT?
70.2% of the 15,918 2002 Ford Mondeo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Ford Mondeo?
Suspension, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by brakes (14.5%).
Does the 2002 Mondeo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.7% in the 0-30k band to 33.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,918 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.