2012 Ford Ranger — MOT failures & pass rate
12,595 MOT tests on the 2012 Ford Ranger are in this dataset, and 75.4% of them passed. Pick-up trucks of a similar age fail at 24.5%, so the 2012 Ranger sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.1% of all tests — 3.0 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, track rod end and rigid brake pipes — headlamp alone was recorded 654 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.4% versus 12.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 26.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 1,776 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.1% | 1,394 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.4% | 933 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 763 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 732 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.7% | 591 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 654 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 619 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 609 |
| 4 | Leaf spring | 581 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 577 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 440 |
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 | 26.7% | 3,361 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.8% | 2,877 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.3% | 1,933 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 1,746 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.6% | 1,584 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.9% | 1,502 |
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 | 217 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,221 | 17.7% |
| 60-90k | 3,256 | 24.2% |
| 90-120k | 3,937 | 26.8% |
| 120-150k | 2,368 | 25.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,586 | 26.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,684 | 22.7% |
| 2022 | 2,663 | 23.9% |
| 2023 | 2,558 | 25.8% |
| 2024 | 2,416 | 25.3% |
| 2025 | 2,274 | 25.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Ranger
On a 2012 Ranger, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.1% 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.
- Brakes (7.4% 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.
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 Rangers pass their MOT?
75.4% of the 12,595 2012 Ford Ranger MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Ford Ranger?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by suspension (11.1%).
Does the 2012 Ranger get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 26.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,595 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.