2010 Ford Mondeo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Ford Mondeo passed 75.7% of its 113,272 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (23.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.6% of tests against 9.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 7,079 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.6% versus 15.1%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 23.0% of the time against 24.4% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 17,648 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.2% | 10,379 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.8% | 8,802 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.2% | 7,057 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 5,194 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 5,157 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 7,079 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 6,499 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 6,141 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 5,590 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 4,505 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 3,454 |
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 | 37.5% | 42,461 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.7% | 34,794 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.7% | 30,268 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 15,678 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.5% | 11,857 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 10,777 |
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 | 575 | 15.1% |
| 30-60k | 5,072 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 18,126 | 21.2% |
| 90-120k | 31,166 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 28,731 | 25.7% |
| 150k+ | 29,448 | 26.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 100,895 | 24.4% |
| Petrol | 12,377 | 23.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 27,294 | 23.0% |
| 2022 | 25,577 | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 23,128 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 20,167 | 25.3% |
| 2025 | 17,106 | 25.8% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Mondeo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.2% 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.
- Tyres (7.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2010 Ford Mondeos pass their MOT?
75.7% of the 113,272 2010 Ford Mondeo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Ford Mondeo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by suspension (9.2%).
Does the 2010 Mondeo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.1% in the 0-30k band to 26.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 113,272 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.