2017 Ford Mustang — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Ford Mustang passed 87.6% of its 10,855 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 9.8% of the time, so this is 2.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.7%) and brakes (4.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), tread depth and wipers — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 360 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.3% once past 90-120k — 2.3× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.7% | 508 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.7% | 505 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.9% | 318 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 204 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 174 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 84 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 360 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 289 |
| 3 | Wipers | 235 |
| 4 | Parking brake performance | 186 |
| 5 | Washers | 152 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 120 |
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 | 19.2% | 2,081 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.4% | 912 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.3% | 361 |
| 4 | Other defects | 2.9% | 316 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 244 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 124 |
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 | 6,404 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 3,728 | 16.5% |
| 60-90k | 616 | 19.3% |
| 90-120k | 89 | 21.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,227 | 9.7% |
| 2022 | 2,205 | 11.3% |
| 2023 | 2,179 | 13.6% |
| 2024 | 2,113 | 13.3% |
| 2025 | 2,131 | 14.1% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Mustang
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.7% 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.
- Brakes (4.7% 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.
- Visibility (2.9% 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 Mustangs pass their MOT?
87.6% of the 10,855 2017 Ford Mustang MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Ford Mustang?
Tyres, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by brakes (4.7%).
Does the 2017 Mustang get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.1% in the 0-30k band to 21.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,855 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.