2019 Ford Mustang — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,571 MOT tests, the 2019 Ford Mustang recorded an 88.2% pass rate. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 8.5% of the time, so this is 3.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (4.7%) and tyres (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), headlamp aim and wipers — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 182 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.8% in the 0-30k band and 22.6% in the 90-120k band, a 12.8-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.4% in 2021 to 12.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.7% | 260 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.7% | 260 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.7% | 151 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 138 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.1% | 62 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 58 |
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) | 182 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 158 |
| 3 | Wipers | 141 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 101 |
| 5 | Parking brake performance | 85 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 79 |
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 | 16.0% | 890 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.0% | 389 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.2% | 176 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.4% | 132 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 122 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 42 |
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 | 4,279 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,120 | 17.8% |
| 60-90k | 126 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 31 | 22.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 195 | 15.4% |
| 2022 | 1,327 | 9.7% |
| 2023 | 1,354 | 10.8% |
| 2024 | 1,344 | 13.6% |
| 2025 | 1,351 | 12.4% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Mustang
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 4.7% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- 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.
- Visibility (2.7% 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.
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 2019 Ford Mustangs pass their MOT?
88.2% of the 5,571 2019 Ford Mustang MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Ford Mustang?
Brakes, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by tyres (4.7%).
Does the 2019 Mustang get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 22.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,571 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.