2017 Ford Ranger — MOT failures & pass rate
62,973 MOT tests on the 2017 Ford Ranger are in this dataset, and 83.3% of them passed. That is effectively the same as pick-up trucks of a similar age (15.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.4%) and lighting & signalling (6.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and malfunction indicator lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 4,072 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 19.9% versus 10.6%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.4% | 4,635 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 4,005 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.5% | 2,844 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.5% | 2,200 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 2,163 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.2% | 1,404 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 4,072 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,889 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,872 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,374 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,269 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,075 |
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 | 16.1% | 10,151 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.1% | 8,243 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.8% | 3,633 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 3,450 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 3,172 |
| 6 | Suspension | 4.7% | 2,956 |
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 | 6,149 | 10.6% |
| 30-60k | 22,748 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 20,062 | 18.1% |
| 90-120k | 9,400 | 19.5% |
| 120-150k | 3,310 | 19.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,301 | 19.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,382 | 13.3% |
| 2022 | 12,644 | 15.8% |
| 2023 | 12,819 | 18.1% |
| 2024 | 12,682 | 17.5% |
| 2025 | 12,446 | 18.5% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Ranger
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.5% 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 2017 Ford Rangers pass their MOT?
83.3% of the 62,973 2017 Ford Ranger MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Ford Ranger?
Suspension, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.4%).
Does the 2017 Ranger get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.6% in the 0-30k band to 19.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 62,973 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.