2020 Ford Mondeo — MOT failures & pass rate
7,975 MOT tests on the 2020 Ford Mondeo are in this dataset, and 88.8% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 10.8%, so the 2020 Mondeo sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.4%) and visibility (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 366 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.5% versus 8.2%.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 10.9% of the time against 11.3% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 14.6% in 2021 to 10.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.4% | 511 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.0% | 316 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 213 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.5% | 121 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 87 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 35 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 366 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 242 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 112 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 100 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 67 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 63 |
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 | 23.2% | 1,849 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.4% | 1,148 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.3% | 505 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 251 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 203 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.3% | 101 |
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 | 2,473 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 3,147 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,579 | 12.5% |
| 90-120k | 571 | 14.9% |
| 120-150k | 143 | 16.1% |
| 150k+ | 62 | 14.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,059 | 11.3% |
| Hybrid | 2,889 | 10.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 96 | 14.6% |
| 2022 | 195 | 8.7% |
| 2023 | 2,586 | 11.2% |
| 2024 | 2,624 | 12.0% |
| 2025 | 2,474 | 10.3% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Mondeo
On a 2020 Mondeo, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.4% 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.
- Visibility (4.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.7% 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 2020 Ford Mondeos pass their MOT?
88.8% of the 7,975 2020 Ford Mondeo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Ford Mondeo?
Tyres, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by visibility (4.0%).
Does the 2020 Mondeo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 14.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,975 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.