2001 Ford Ranger — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,313 MOT tests, the 2001 Ford Ranger recorded a 72.4% pass rate. Pick-up trucks of a similar age fail at 28.6%, so the 2001 Ranger sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.9% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are chassis condition, rigid brake pipes and joints — chassis condition alone was recorded 337 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 31.0% versus 17.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.8% in 2021 to 24.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.9% | 817 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.3% | 615 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.7% | 503 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.2% | 482 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.8% | 293 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.8% | 162 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chassis condition | 337 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 302 |
| 3 | Joints | 296 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 294 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 292 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 284 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 40.4% | 1,743 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.4% | 1,528 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 34.5% | 1,489 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.4% | 792 |
| 5 | Other defects | 18.1% | 781 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.8% | 596 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 139 | 17.3% |
| 60-90k | 566 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 944 | 25.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,075 | 27.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,566 | 31.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,130 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | 1,052 | 29.2% |
| 2023 | 843 | 27.3% |
| 2024 | 717 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 571 | 24.7% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Ranger
On a 2001 Ranger, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.3% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Suspension (11.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2001 Ford Rangers pass their MOT?
72.4% of the 4,313 2001 Ford Ranger MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Ford Ranger?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.9% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (14.3%).
Does the 2001 Ranger get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.3% in the 30-60k band to 31.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,313 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.