2011 Ford Mondeo — MOT failures & pass rate
89,282 MOT tests on the 2011 Ford Mondeo are in this dataset, and 77.5% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 22.8%, so the 2011 Mondeo sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.9% of all tests — 5.2 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and position lamp — pins and bushes alone was recorded 4,909 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.9% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.5pp more often than petrol ones (22.9% vs 20.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 33.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 11,535 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.7% | 6,877 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.4% | 6,581 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.4% | 4,839 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 4,258 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 2,728 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 4,909 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 4,890 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 4,030 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 4,026 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 2,777 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 2,650 |
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 | 33.2% | 29,640 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.8% | 27,450 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.1% | 22,362 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 12,870 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.2% | 9,093 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.9% | 8,808 |
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 | 460 | 16.5% |
| 30-60k | 4,813 | 15.3% |
| 60-90k | 15,677 | 19.5% |
| 90-120k | 24,192 | 22.6% |
| 120-150k | 21,033 | 23.7% |
| 150k+ | 23,032 | 24.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 73,906 | 22.9% |
| Petrol | 15,376 | 20.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,881 | 21.0% |
| 2022 | 19,170 | 21.8% |
| 2023 | 18,202 | 22.7% |
| 2024 | 16,825 | 23.6% |
| 2025 | 15,204 | 24.0% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Mondeo
On a 2011 Mondeo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.7% 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 (7.4% 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 2011 Ford Mondeos pass their MOT?
77.5% of the 89,282 2011 Ford Mondeo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Ford Mondeo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.9% of tests, followed by suspension (7.7%).
Does the 2011 Mondeo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.5% in the 0-30k band to 24.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 89,282 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.