2017 Ford Mondeo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 62,610 MOT tests analysed for the 2017 Ford Mondeo, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 88.6% was above the average for large family cars of a similar age (86.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 16.7% in the 150k+ group versus 6.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 3,561 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 2,508 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.0% | 1,902 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.9% | 1,849 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 568 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 374 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 2,415 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,904 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,738 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,036 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 773 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 452 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 24.5% | 15,367 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.0% | 11,908 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.7% | 4,222 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 2,657 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.4% | 2,134 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 2,055 |
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 | 6,299 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 21,108 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 18,362 | 11.9% |
| 90-120k | 9,880 | 13.6% |
| 120-150k | 4,162 | 14.1% |
| 150k+ | 2,786 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 56,861 | 11.5% |
| Petrol | 4,616 | 9.6% |
| Hybrid | 1,133 | 10.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,794 | 10.4% |
| 2022 | 12,555 | 10.4% |
| 2023 | 12,521 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 12,441 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 12,299 | 12.5% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Mondeo
Before buying a 2017 Ford Mondeo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.7% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2017 Ford Mondeos pass their MOT?
88.6% of the 62,610 2017 Ford Mondeo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Ford Mondeo?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.0%).
Does the 2017 Mondeo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 62,610 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.