2018 Ford Mondeo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 40,597 MOT tests analysed for the 2018 Ford Mondeo, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 88.7% was above the average for large family cars of a similar age (87.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 14.1% in the 150k+ group versus 7.2% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 2,391 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.7% | 1,515 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 1,368 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.5% | 1,009 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 242 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.6% | 229 |
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 | 1,707 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,629 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,005 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 649 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 342 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 273 |
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 | 23.8% | 9,669 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.7% | 6,774 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.3% | 2,539 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 1,394 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 1,054 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.1% | 866 |
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 | 7,600 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 14,853 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 10,185 | 12.6% |
| 90-120k | 4,889 | 13.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,950 | 13.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,117 | 14.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 32,381 | 11.8% |
| Petrol | 5,380 | 8.5% |
| Hybrid | 2,836 | 10.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,448 | 11.2% |
| 2022 | 8,303 | 11.4% |
| 2023 | 8,105 | 10.8% |
| 2024 | 7,871 | 11.0% |
| 2025 | 7,870 | 12.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Mondeo
Before buying a 2018 Ford Mondeo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.9% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.9% 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.
- Visibility (3.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% 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 2018 Ford Mondeos pass their MOT?
88.7% of the 40,597 2018 Ford Mondeo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Ford Mondeo?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by visibility (3.7%).
Does the 2018 Mondeo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 14.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 40,597 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.