2018 Ford Ranger — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Ford Ranger passed 85.1% of its 80,511 recorded MOT tests. Pick-up trucks of a similar age fail at 14.3%, so the 2018 Ranger sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.4%) and suspension (6.1%) 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 tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 4,192 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.1% versus 8.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 5,132 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.1% | 4,899 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.9% | 3,119 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.4% | 2,741 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 1,912 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 1,651 |
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 | 4,192 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,710 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,687 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,638 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,619 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,171 |
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 | 16.7% | 13,454 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.7% | 10,199 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.6% | 4,488 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.5% | 4,422 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 3,636 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 2,896 |
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 | 13,060 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 31,882 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 21,807 | 17.5% |
| 90-120k | 9,460 | 19.9% |
| 120-150k | 3,083 | 20.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,216 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,311 | 10.4% |
| 2022 | 15,992 | 12.7% |
| 2023 | 16,276 | 15.6% |
| 2024 | 16,536 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 16,396 | 18.2% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Ranger
On a 2018 Ranger, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Suspension (6.1% 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 (3.9% 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 2018 Ford Rangers pass their MOT?
85.1% of the 80,511 2018 Ford Ranger MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Ford Ranger?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by suspension (6.1%).
Does the 2018 Ranger get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 21.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 80,511 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.