2012 Ford Mustang — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Ford Mustang passed 86.2% of its 520 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 16.4% of the time, so this is 2.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.3%) and brakes (4.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, individual direction indicators and rear fog lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 25 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.1% in the 0-30k band and 16.3% in the 90-120k band, a 6.1-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 12.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 38 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.6% | 24 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.5% | 18 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 13 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.9% | 10 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.7% | 9 |
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 | 25 |
| 2 | Individual direction indicators | 14 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 12 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 12 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 11 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 8 |
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 | 12.9% | 67 |
| 2 | Tyres | 11.2% | 58 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.6% | 55 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.1% | 37 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 35 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.5% | 34 |
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 | 138 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 144 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 159 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 43 | 16.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 76 | 15.8% |
| 2022 | 120 | 12.5% |
| 2023 | 116 | 12.9% |
| 2024 | 103 | 13.6% |
| 2025 | 105 | 15.2% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Mustang
On a 2012 Mustang, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Tyres (3.5% 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 2012 Ford Mustangs pass their MOT?
86.2% of the 520 2012 Ford Mustang MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Ford Mustang?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by brakes (4.6%).
Does the 2012 Mustang get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 16.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 520 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.